Collins will host telephone town hall meeting on Common Core

Posted 25 January 2014 at 12:00 am

‘Common Core is a typical one-size-fits-all approach generated by big government bureaucrats.’ – Congressman Chris Collins

Press release, Congressman Chris Collins

Congressman Chris Collins (R-Clarence) will host a telephone town hall on Common Core this Monday. The new educational standards are currently being implemented in New York State.

Common Core is widely criticized for forcing students to learn skills necessary to perform well on tests as opposed to actually learning critical material. Collins recently met with parents, students, educators and school board members to discuss ongoing concerns with Common Core.

“Common Core is a typical one-size-fits-all approach generated by big government bureaucrats,” Collins said. “My office continues to be contacted by parents and educators with serious concerns about how Common Core is effecting students and learning in the classroom. I want to bring people together from across New York’s 27th Congressional District to have a conversation on this important issue.”

New York State adopted Common Core standards in 2010.Across the country, 45 states have begun Common Core implementation, but recently ten states, including Massachusetts, have started to rethink or delay their participation over growing concerns from parents, educators and students themselves.States were incentivized to participate in Common Core by the federal government through grant money available as part of the American Recovery and Restoration Act (federal stimulus).

“The federal government knew financially strapped states would jump at the chance for extra aid and sign-up for Common Core,” Collins said. “As implementation begins, people are starting to wake-up to what Common Core is really all about.I am hopeful this telephone town hall will allow people to learn more about Common Core, share their concerns, and hear how other states are approaching these new regulations.”

Collins’ Common Core telephone town hall will begin at 4 p.m. on Monday. To participate, email Collins by visiting his website at chriscollins.house.gov/contact/email-me, enter your contact information and put “TELETOWNHALL” in the message subject line.