Norwalk School Board Intros 'Common Core' Communication Plan

The Board of Education on Tuesday reportedly rolled out what is tantamount to a PR campaign in support of its transition to the Common Core State Standards, so that the district can accurately communicate to school parents the changes the new framework will bring.

"We need to get the message out that the Common Core is real, it's coming, and, really, it's already here," Interim Superintendent Tony Daddona said during Tuesday's Board meeting, according to a report in The Hour of Norwalk. "For this year we are focusing on communicating and getting the community of Norwalk involved in this process."

Coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), the Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort to provide a "clear and consistent framework to prepare our children for college and the workforce."

Developed in collaboration with teachers, school administrators, and experts, the standards are based on the "most effective models from states across the country and countries around the world."

The standards are not federally mandated, nor did the federal government have input into their developement, however they are mandated on the state level once adopted.

Once adopted, each school district's unique approach to improving education will be layered on top of the Common Core framework — thus each district can continue to maintain its own, proven, in-house-developed educational programs, as well as develop new ones.

The communication plan rolled out by the Norwalk Board of Education includes a video, a brochure, a Powerpoint presentation and web page, according to the Hour of Norwalk report.

The standards will be rolled out in three phases, starting with the communication plan, with full implementation to be completed by Sept. 2014, according to the report.

For more, check out The Hour of Norwalk report.