Common Core Conversations in CT:

2 The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) is an effort to minimize the learning gap between high- and low-achieving students in the United States by providing a set of standards all students must meet by the end of each grade level. Although 43 states have adopted the CCSS, there are varied opinions on whether this new reform will create positive change within America’s school systems. This research examined the opinions of citizens in Connecticut by analyzing written testimonies from a public hearing that took place in Hartford on March 12, 2014. The results show that two main groups expressed support of the CCSS: statewide organizations and suburban administrators, who believed that the CCSS would create students that are globally competitive and better prepared for college and careers because the standards are challenging. On the other hand, suburban teachers and suburban parents were opponents of the CCSS because the standards were too rigorous and focused on test taking rather than critical thinking skills. The results of this research suggest that speakers may vary their support of the CCSS based on how they perceive the Core’s effects within or outside the school