10-1-13 common core hearings scheduled

Today, State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-Fond du Lac) and State Senator Paul Farrow (R-Pewaukee) announced four joint Assembly and Senate Special Select Committee on Common Core Standards hearing around the state.  The first hearing is scheduled for Thursday, October 3^rd from 12:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in room 417 North of the Wisconsin State Capitol.  Other hearings include:

Thursday, October 17 (2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.) Fond du Lac – City/County Building

Wednesday, October 23 (2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.) Eau Claire – Chippewa Valley Technical College
Wednesday, October 30 (2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.) Wausau – Northcentral Technical College
Hearings will include invited speakers and public comments.  If members of the public are unable to attend the hearings in-person, proceedings will be broadcast over Wisconsin Eye.   “These hearings are to provide an opportunity for the public to bring input to the legislature concerning how our children will be prepared for the future,” stated Farrow.  “Education is the foundation of a strong and vibrant economy.  We need to ensure our children are being challenged so they may succeed in the 21^st century’s global economy.  Such a goal must be balanced with our long standing tradition of local control in education.”    Thiesfeldt stated, “I look forward to engaging and educating the public through these hearings.  These standards could be in place for decades and having over 24 hours of testimony will give us a good foundation for crafting a recommendation, and if not, to hold additional hearings until we learn everything we can about how Common Core would affect Wisconsin’s students.”    If you would like information regarding the upcoming hearings or would like to submit testimony to the Assembly and Senate Committees, please contact Representative Thiesfeldt’s office by calling (608) 266-3156 or Senator Farrow’s office by calling (608) 266-9174.