Society of Fellows One-Day Symposium: Common Standards – A Way to Reinvigorate the Democratic Purpose of Public Education?
Understand both sides of the looming battle over implementing “Common Core State Standards” in almost every public school in the U.S. Co-moderated by Paul Pastorek and Nancy Pelz-Paget. Ms. Pelz-Paget is Co-Director of the Aspen Institute’s Education and Society Program.
Mr. Pastorek is an education policy expert. He served as Louisiana’s State Superintendent of Education from 2007 to 2011. He fought for a vast amount of education reforms while superintendent, but transforming K-12 education in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina is arguably his most significant accomplishment. An attorney, Pastorek was recently Chief Administrative Officer of Airbus Group, Inc; prior to that he was General Counsel to NASA.
The implementation of Common Core, a new set of state standards detailing K-12 educational goals, has sparked intense controversy, eliciting support and criticism across the political and educational policy spectrum. Conservatives worry about the overreach of federal incentives, while unions do not want the standards connected to teacher evaluations.
This symposium presents Society of Fellows members an opportunity to discuss the priorities of public schools and the part they play in preparing students for productive employment, economic self-sufficiency, and above all, active civic participation.
Understand both sides of the looming battle over implementing “Common Core State Standards” in almost every public school in the U.S. Co-moderated by Paul Pastorek and Nancy Pelz-Paget.