Formal Public Hearing on Common Core to be Held in CT

HARTFORD – House Republicans today forced Democrats to stage a formal public hearing on the controversial Common Core curriculum and public school teacher evaluation process by petitioning out legislation that the majority party refused to raise in the Education Committee.

Republicans resorted to the seldom used petitioning process by their caucus that allows for legislation to be raised. Republicans gathered the required 51 signatures from their caucus under House Rule 11 that triggered the two bills to be raised with the public hearing to follow.

“It is critical that educators, parents, taxpayers and students be heard on these issues within the legislative process, and that can take place only if we have a formal public hearing,’’ House Republican Leader Larry Cafero said. “To date, the Democrats on the Education Committee have refused to raise any bills or allow for a traditional public hearing where all parties can be heard.’’

One Republican bill codifies the proposals brought forth by the committee created to establish teacher evaluation standards known as the Performance Evaluation Advisory Council.

The second bill, authored by state Rep. Marilyn Giuliano of Old Saybrook, would freeze the implementation of the Common Core curriculum until all stakeholders have time to examine its potential effects and consider possible changes.

“We have heard from hundreds, if not thousands, of educators and parents from outside the General Assembly who never had the opportunity to weight in before the new curriculum was created and put into motion. We need to have that debate and allow for all interested parties to have their say,’’ Cafero said.

The Democratic leadership only agreed to have a hearing where the speakers would be selected ahead of time and the discussion controlled by time constraints. Cafero said, “That forum does not allow for a robust debate.’’