SHARE

Frey Calls For Ridgefield To Speak Up On Common Core School Standards

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. -- State Rep. John Frey (R-Ridgefield), along with other House Republicans, is calling for a delay in implementing Common Core education standards and new teacher evaluation procedures. 

State Rep. John Frey (R-Ridgefield) is calling for a delay in implementing Common Core standards and teacher evaluations.

State Rep. John Frey (R-Ridgefield) is calling for a delay in implementing Common Core standards and teacher evaluations.

Photo Credit: Courtesy Rep. John Frey's Office

Republicans want the implementation of Common Core and teacher evaluations delayed until after the public can fully vet the changes to the state’s education system with a public hearing, Frey said. The announcement comes on the heels of Gov. Dannel Malloy's proposal to delay the linking of educator performance ratings and student test scores. Malloy also wants to create a working group within the Performance Evaluation Advisory Council to make changes in the implementation in the Common Core State Standards. 

“Unfortunately, the governor’s proposal does nothing to give the public or their representatives in the legislature full disclosure or input on these educational standards for our children. Instead the task of evaluating the implementation of Common Core is given to an outside advisory board behind closed doors, and the public and lawmakers are left out of the process again,” said Frey, who represents the 111th District in the state House, in a release.

Frey said he has met with teachers, parents and school administrators in an attempt to understand and identify their concerns and to ensure the education of Ridgefield students will not suffer but to continue to excel. 

“Ridgefield has some of the highest-performing schools in the state, with some of the best teachers in the profession who have already proven their ability to produce stellar outcomes," said Frey. 

"I have heard from countless teachers and administrators in both Ridgefield and across the state who say the burden being placed on them to comply with the new performance evaluations and Common Core Standards has taken much of the joy out of their jobs – at no benefit to the students who this overhaul is supposedly all about. We need to take a time-out on Common Core so that we may give the major stakeholders in this reform the input and accountability they deserve.” 

Teachers around the state are also concerned about being evaluated based on student scores from the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, he said.

“Many teachers have complained to me that all of these new administrative tasks that are coming with the education reform packages have taken a great deal of joy out of their jobs, without benefiting the students in any noticeable way,” Frey said.

to follow Daily Voice Ridgefield and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE