Budget Amendment ID: FY2015-S4-463

EDU 463

Independent Common Core Curriculum Review

Messrs. Tarr, Hedlund and Ross moved that the proposed new text be amended moved that the bill be amended by inserting, after section__, the following new section:-

“SECTION__. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a special task force established to analyze the Common Core State Standards. The task force shall consist of the following: the commissioner of the department of elementary and secondary education, or a designee; 1 representative of the Massachusetts Teachers Association; 1 representative of the American Federation of Teachers; 1 representative of the Pioneer Institute; 1 representative of the Massachusetts Business Association for Education; 1 representative of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts; 1 representative of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees; 1 representative of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents; 1 representative of the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association; 1 representative of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges; and 1 representative of the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy. The chair of the task force shall be chosen by a majority vote of the 11 members of the task force.

In its examination, the task force shall conduct an independent and unbiased review the merits of the Common Core State Standards, including but not limited to: (i) the rigor of the English language arts standards in relation to the curriculum frameworks in place during the 2008 through 2010 school years; (ii) the rigor of the mathematics standards in relation to the curriculum frameworks in place during the 2008 through 2010 school years; (iii) which standard would better prepare Massachusetts students for college; (iv) the emphasis on informational texts in the new standards in relation to the curriculum frameworks in place during the 2008 through 2010 school years; and (v) the emphasis on writing in the standards in relation to the curriculum frameworks in place during the 2008 through 2010 school years.

The task force shall submit its report, findings and recommendations, along with any proposed legislation and regulatory changes, to the joint committee on education, and the clerks of the house and senate on or before January 1, 2015.”