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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
05/13/2024 08:53 AM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20130&cosponId=12800
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House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: May 14, 2013 03:38 PM
From: Representative Harold A. English
To: All House members
Subject: State Academic Standards Resolution
 
In the near future, I plan to introduce a resolution that would call on the Secretary of Education and the State Board of Education to review their policies relating to the adoption of state academic standards for K-12 education, and to respond to the recent wave of concerns which have arisen as a result of Pennsylvania’s adoption of the Common Core State Standards, by amending state regulations to affirm Pennsylvania’s commitment to its tradition of local control, rigorous standards, and respect for the privacy of its citizens.

Beginning in 2004, the Common Core State Standards (CC Standards) were developed by the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Governors’ Association Center for Best Practices. The CC Standards were developed as benchmark expectations, for student achievement in the core subjects of English Language Arts and Mathematics, which could be shared among the states to ensure a higher level of academic rigor in K-12 education. Presently 45 states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories, have adopted these standards.

In 1999, Pennsylvania adopted its first statewide academic standards in the subject areas of (1) Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, and (2) Mathematics. In 2010 these standards were replaced by the State Board of Education with the adoption of the CC Standards for the subject areas of English Language Arts and Mathematics. This took effect upon their publication in the October 16, 2010 edition of the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Since then the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and the State Board have worked to adapt the CC Standards to Pennsylvania’s needs and use with the Creation of Pennsylvania Common Core Standards, and most recently the State Board has proposed new Title 22 Chapter 4 regulatory changes which include implementation language for the adapted Pennsylvania CC Standards.

Notwithstanding the work of the PDE and the State Board, there have been numerous concerns raised in recent months from education groups, parents, and other citizens regarding many potential negative consequences of adopting these standards.

My resolution is designed to address these concerns by calling on the Secretary of Education and the State Board of Education to:
  • Ensure that PA academic standards are rigorous.
  • Refrain from adopting any standards which do not meet or exceed the rigor of current standards.
  • Ensure that all standards are adapted to the specific needs of PA.
  • Ensure that all education stakeholders are engaged and consulted when adopting standards.
  • Ensure the continuation of maximum flexibility in curriculum decisions at a local level.
  • Refrain from establishing required reading lists, or in any way attempting to impose a statewide curriculum.
  • Refrain from adopting any national standardized assessments.
  • Ensure that PA standards are not burdensome and costly to public schools.
  • Ensure that PA standards do not result in an intrusion into student and family privacy, or result in the collection and reporting of additional data to the federal government.
  • Amend any regulations necessary to effectuate the sentiment expressed in this resolution.

If you have any questions regarding this legislation, please contact Alison Hagler in my Harrisburg office at ahagler@pahousgop.com or (717) 260-6407.

Introduced as HR338