Commissioners Vote Down Forming Board Sanctioned Common Core Group

The Board of Carroll County Commissioners voted down a motion made by Commissioner Richard Rothschild to create a board sanctioned work group to study Common Core. 

According to the Maryland State Department of Education website, Common Core is "a set of shared goals and expectations for what students should understand and be able to do in grades K-12 in order to be prepared for success in college and the workplace."

In open session Thursday, Rothschild suggested that Commissioner Howard's idea to create a Common Core work group be expanded to create a board sanctioned work group. Rothschild explained that a board sanctioned work group would report to the board of Commissioners, take direction from the board, comply with the Open Meetings Act and keep meeting minutes. 

Rothschild said that citizens are frustrated with the lack of transparency in understanding what Common Core is and how it is implemented. He cited a recent incident in which an Ellicott City man was arrested during a Common Core forum in Baltimore County. 

Commissioner Doug Howard, who recently suggested a work group be formed to research the different aspects of Common Core and what it means for Carroll County, said that he is concerned that a board sanctioned work group would lose focus. He said he is concerned about the potential for the work group to get stuck contemplating what is happening at the federal level instead of focusing on what is happening in Carroll County. 

"These things are almost always debilitating because they end up arguing about things that aren't happening in this county," Howard said. "And they always end up criticizing our school system." 

Howard's suggested Common Core Analysis Group would be a small, diverse group of seven to nine people with differing perspective that will create a framework, identify concerns and develop recommendations, according to a county news release. 

Rothschild said he agreed that they are lacking solid information about Common Core and suggested a transparent process that includes a work group that reports to the Board. Rothschild said the group would be tasked with studying the impact and effects of Common Core on education autonomy in Carroll County.

"I agree we don’t have a lot of good solid information," Rothschild said. "But where I differ is there has been no open process on this, this is why I move that we create a board sponsored work group." 

The Board voted down the motion to form a board sanctioned work group 2-2, with Howard and Dave Roush voting against the work group and Robin Frazier and Rothschild voting in favor of the workgroup. Commissioner Haven Shoemaker was absent.

Have you tried to get information about Common Core and feel like information has not been forthcoming? Do you think a board sanctioned work group would help? Tell us in comments. 

Related Stores:

• Maryland School Assessment Replacement Totals Up to 10 Hours
• Commissioner Rothschild Concerned State Standards will Turn Schools into 'Propaganda Institutes for Government'
• 'Carroll Values Education' Hosts Forum on Common Core State Standards, Assessments
• Commissioner Forms Group to Examine Common Core's Impact on Carroll County