Legislature to Host Common Core Forum

The chairs of the Senate and House Education Committees, Senator John Goedde and Representative Reed DeMordaunt, announced today their plans to bring Idahoans together for a serious discussion on Common Core. 

“In an effort to be transparent, we want to allow the public to share questions and concerns regarding Idaho Common Core,” Senator Goedde explained.

The Forum will take place on Wednesday, January 22, 2014 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Lincoln Auditorium in the Senate West Wing (WW02) of the State Capitol.

Participants must submit their questions in advance. Questions are to be emailed or sent to the House Education Secretary. Email address: hedu@house.idaho.gov Physical address: EW49, Routing Code 38, State Capitol, Boise, ID 83720-0038

All questions must be submitted by Friday, January 17, 2014 at 5:00 p.m.

Chairman DeMordaunt said, “It is critical that questions regarding the Idaho Common Core are submitted in advance so that they can be thoroughly researched.”

A formal panel of educators, Department of Education personnel and others, both proponents and opponents, will be a part of the panel and the research process.  They, in turn, will then prepare answers regarding the Idaho Common Core Standards.

The Forum will be structured so that the audience can see every question presented on a screen and then those questions will be answered by the panelists.  No questions will be taken from the audience on the day of the Common Core Forum. However, the Forum proceedings will be available online.

The Idaho Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort that established a single set of educational standards for kindergarten through 12th grade in English language arts and mathematics.  These English language arts and mathematics standards represent a set of expectations for student knowledge and skills that high school graduates need to master to succeed in college and careers.