National PTA Supports Draft of Common Core State Standards

                            

As the nation’s oldest and largest child advocacy association, National PTA offers its full support of the draft for college-and-career readiness standards that were released today as a part of the  Common Core State Standards Initiative.  As an endorsing partner of the initiative, National PTA is supportive of the proposed fewer, clearer and higher standards and sees  tremendous value in the ability of the standards to ensure educational equity among  individual schools, districts and states.

 

“Geographic or socio-economic factors should not dictate the level of education that all students are entitled to receive. The great benefit of the standards is that they will ensure a level playing field among states, school districts and schools that will give all students the opportunity to be ready for their college and career,”  said Charles J. “Chuck” Saylors, National PTA President.

 

PTA strongly supports this reform and is pleased to be working alongside the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, the Council of Chief State School Officers, and other leading education organizations to move this work forward. 

 

The draft standards are available at: http://www.corestandards.org/ ^[1] for review.  Public comment is being accepted until October 21, 2009 and must be research-based. The full K-12 standards are expected to be finalized in early 2010.

 

PTA comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education health, and welfare of children and youth.