State officials discuss Common Core changes

Two state education officials came to the East County Tuesday night to explain the status of Florida’s implementation of the Common Core State Standards.

The meeting — a program hosted by Tea Party Manatee, at Mixon’s Fruit Farms — coincided with a proposal by the state education commissioner Monday to tweak the standards to make the learning requirements unique to Florida. 

An estimated 100 people were mostly dubious that the 98 proposed changes recommended by Pam Stewart, state education commissioner, would truly change anything. 

John Colon of the Florida State Board of Education and Jim Browder, regional executive director for the Florida Department of Education, promised the crowd the changes — if adopted — would be tangibly felt.

“These are the Florida Standards, not the Common Core Standards,” Colon said. “Nothing is written in stone. More changes are coming. And we’re willing to listen to your input.”

The state board of education will vote on the changes — which include adding 52 new calculus standards and requiring students to master cursive writing — Feb. 18.

See more on this story in the Jan. 23 East County Observer.

Contact Josh Siegel at [email protected].