Dear Mrs. (I'm not sharing her identity):
Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns with the Common Core State Standards Initiative and federal funding. I agree that federal funding plays a vital role in public education in our country, and I will continue to fight to keep these investments for New York and our country.
As you know, in the global ideas economy, we must maintain our knowledge ...advantage if we are to maintain our place in the world. In addition, without top-notch schools we won’t be able to afford any of the other things that are also critical and we so badly need—a strong defense, better health care, a fair Social Security system. So we need our public education to be the best it can be. Along with our schools, teachers, families, and students, the Department of Education is an integral partner in this effort.
In addition, I am also working with my colleagues on reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). As you know, the last reauthorization of ESEA, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), became law in 2001. While the goals of NCLB are admirable, I believe that the law does not provide states, school districts, and educators with the flexibility and support they need to accomplish them. The education of our children cannot wait any longer, and I am pushing for the Senate to continue careful consideration of ESEA as soon as possible. I will continue to work closely with my colleagues to make sure that New York schools, teachers, and students get the resources they need to support a high-quality, well-rounded education.
The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort that established a single set of clear educational standards for kindergarten through 12th grade in English language arts and mathematics that states voluntarily adopt. The standards are designed to ensure that students graduating from high school are prepared for entry courses in two or four year college programs or enter the workforce. The standards are clear and concise to ensure that parents, teachers, and students have a clear understanding of the expectations in reading, writing, speaking and listening, language and mathematics in school.
The nation’s governors and education commissioners, through their representative organizations the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) led the development of the Common Core State Standards and continue to lead the initiative. Teachers, parents, school administrators and experts from across the country together with state leaders provided input into the development of the standards. Each state independently made the decision to adopt the Common Core State Standards, beginning in 2010. To date, there are 45 states along with our territories and the District of Columbia that have voluntarily adopted to use these standards. Local teachers, principals, and superintendents lead the implementation of the Common Core. The federal government had no role in the development of the Common Core State Standards and will not have a role in their implementation. The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort that is not part of No Child Left Behind and adoption of the standards is in no way mandatory.
Again, thank you for contacting me regarding this important issue. Please feel free to contact me in the future if I can be of further assistance on this or any other matter.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator
Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns with the Common Core State Standards Initiative and federal funding. I agree that federal funding plays a vital role in public education in our country, and I will continue to fight to keep these investments for New York and our country.
As you know, in the global ideas economy, we must maintain our knowledge ...advantage if we are to maintain our place in the world. In addition, without top-notch schools we won’t be able to afford any of the other things that are also critical and we so badly need—a strong defense, better health care, a fair Social Security system. So we need our public education to be the best it can be. Along with our schools, teachers, families, and students, the Department of Education is an integral partner in this effort.
In addition, I am also working with my colleagues on reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). As you know, the last reauthorization of ESEA, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), became law in 2001. While the goals of NCLB are admirable, I believe that the law does not provide states, school districts, and educators with the flexibility and support they need to accomplish them. The education of our children cannot wait any longer, and I am pushing for the Senate to continue careful consideration of ESEA as soon as possible. I will continue to work closely with my colleagues to make sure that New York schools, teachers, and students get the resources they need to support a high-quality, well-rounded education.
The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort that established a single set of clear educational standards for kindergarten through 12th grade in English language arts and mathematics that states voluntarily adopt. The standards are designed to ensure that students graduating from high school are prepared for entry courses in two or four year college programs or enter the workforce. The standards are clear and concise to ensure that parents, teachers, and students have a clear understanding of the expectations in reading, writing, speaking and listening, language and mathematics in school.
The nation’s governors and education commissioners, through their representative organizations the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) led the development of the Common Core State Standards and continue to lead the initiative. Teachers, parents, school administrators and experts from across the country together with state leaders provided input into the development of the standards. Each state independently made the decision to adopt the Common Core State Standards, beginning in 2010. To date, there are 45 states along with our territories and the District of Columbia that have voluntarily adopted to use these standards. Local teachers, principals, and superintendents lead the implementation of the Common Core. The federal government had no role in the development of the Common Core State Standards and will not have a role in their implementation. The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort that is not part of No Child Left Behind and adoption of the standards is in no way mandatory.
Again, thank you for contacting me regarding this important issue. Please feel free to contact me in the future if I can be of further assistance on this or any other matter.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator
Hey Chuck,
ReplyDeleteThe only reason states 'voluntarily' adopted the standard is because if they didn't, they wouldn't receive the Title 1 funding.