SHARE

Stamford Schools Explain New State Standards

STAMFORD, Conn. — Stamford parents got to learn all about the Common Core State Standards that the public schools have been implementing, Monday night at a public forum held by the school district.

The night included break-out sessions in which each parent could learn how English and mathematics will be taught differently with the standards. While parents seemed satisfied with the English aspect, they were concerned with the math portion.

“There is always a plan, and then there is the execution of the plan,” Connie Petersen, a parent of a Stillmeadow Elementary School student, said, specifically mentioning her concerns with the mathematics standards.

“The jury is still out,” said Diana Toomey-Wilson, a parent at Rogers International School, adding that she wanted to see how comfortable the teachers are with the new standards first.

The standards were created in 2010 by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers after American students continued to do poorly on international exams, said Mona Hanna, chief academic officer for the Stamford School District.

“We need to do additional work,” Hanna said during the forum at the Academy of Information, Technology and Engineering. She added that the schools have already begun implementing the standards, and they will be in the schools fully by 2014.

The primary basis of the standards is that “less is more,” she said, explaining that students will learn fewer concepts but will develop more depth on the ones they do learn. An example of this would be on mathematics tests, students would no longer be able to circle an answer, but rather would write it down and explain how they came to their conclusion.

For more information about the Common Core State Standards and what the Stamford School District is doing, visit the district website.

to follow Daily Voice Stamford and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE