Schools

Common Core Sparks 'Parents for a Common Cause' at Lakeland

Members of the District Parents’ Council (DPC) of the Lakeland Central School District have launched Parents for a Common Cause, an organization created with the goal of educating parents about Common Core while providing them with a voice in the discussion.  

"While many parents and educators support the higher standards, there is concern about the fast-paced implementation and emphasis on high-stakes testing," member Karen Pressman said. 

The New York State Common Core Learning Standards are designed to provide a consistent set of expectations for what students should learn and be able to do so that every student across New York State is on track for college and career readiness, members of Parents for a Common Cause said in a statement. 

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Here are several initiatives Parents for a Common Cause plan to undertake to give parents the opportunity to constructively express their feelings about Common Core and its impact on their children and families:

  • They will hold a meeting at Lakeland High School on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m., which will provide information to parents about the Common Core Standards, Curriculum and Assessments, and explain how they can bring their voice into the discussion 
  • Conduct a survey that encourages parents to share information about the impact of Common Core on their child. These surveys will be sent to those responsible for the Common Core implementation including NYS Education Commissioner John King, the NYS Board of Regents and Chancellor Merryl H. Tisch. These testimonials will also go to local and state legislators who have the power to implement change.
  • Tap into resources such as teachers and administrators in the community, the National and NY State PTA and local organizations such as the Alliance for Safe Kids (ASK) and the Cortlandt Community Coalition and disseminate this information to parents via Facebook at www.facebook.com/p4commoncause and email p4commoncause@gmail.com.  The organization also has a mailing address at P.O. Box 164, Shrub Oak, NY 10598. 

"Because Parents for a Common Cause was created by parents for parents, it is in the unique position of understanding the daily struggles going on not only in the school, but the home," members said in a statement. "The organization hopes that by bringing the collective parent voices to those in power, it can initiate sensible changes to the Common Core Curriculum and Assessments."

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