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Community Corner

Hoydick & Miller: Public Hearing on Common Core and Teacher Evaluations Set for Next Wednesday

HARTFORD – A public hearing on bills introduced by Reps. Laura Hoydick (R-120) and Larry Miller (R-122), along with the House Republican caucus, on the controversial Common Core curriculum, and teacher evaluations will be held Wednesday, March 12, 12:00 P.M. in Room 1E of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

Last week Hoydick & Miller joined with House Republicans in successfully petitioning to have the bills heard after majority Democrats on the Education Committee refused to hold a public hearing on the implementation of the Common Core curriculum.  Common Core was adopted by the State Board of Education on a national model without any legislative action, and without input from Connecticut parents, teachers and administrators. 

The simultaneous implementation of a new teacher evaluation system has created discord in school districts across Connecticut as educators have been moved from teaching fundamentals and more toward data collection.

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“We have fought to get this public hearing over the objection of majority Democrats leading the legislature’s Education Committee,” said Rep. Hoydick.  “Parents and teachers from Stratford and all over the state have objected to the way Common Core and the evaluation were put into place, and now there is an opportunity for their very real and legitimate concerns to be heard.”

“It’s unfortunate that there has been a substantial struggle just to allow the voices of parents and educators to be heard on these topics,” said Rep. Miller.  “With policy changes as substantial as Common Core and teacher evaluations it is critical that we give parents and educators their say.”

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Hoydick and Miller expressed disappointment that, despite a request from House Republicans that the hearing be held at a time convenient for teachers and parents, the Education Committee chose to hold the hearing in the middle of the afternoon on Wednesday.  They said greater care should have been taken to accommodate those the bills impact most.

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