PTA council schedules ‘brown bag’ for college, career standards

Students at Columbia Elementary School (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Madison City Council of PTAs’ ‘brown-bag lunch’ on Sept. 20 will deal with a debate-generating topic, the Alabama College and Career Readiness Standards.

“Please bring your lunch and plan to attend this informative hour regarding the recent adoption of math and language standards in Madison City Schools,” council president Sonja Griffith said.

The hour-long meeting will start at noon in the Central Office board room and is open to the public.

Madison teachers implemented math standards last year and are working on English language arts standards this school year.

Judy Warmath, the district’s elementary instruction coordinator, will explain how Madison teachers are applying the standards. A panel discussion will involve teachers, administrators and business leaders.

“The lunch meeting’s goal is to educate parents and stakeholders about the standards that Alabama has adopted. We want to get the facts out to the public directly from educators,” Griffith said.

In November 2010, the Alabama Board of Education adopted the Alabama College and Career Readiness Standards. The state developed these educational standards “to include the internationally benchmarked Common Core State Standards, along with selected Alabama standards,” Griffith said.

The combination of Common Core and Alabama’s standards produces one of the most comprehensive set in the nation, “ensuring students are prepared for a successful future in the ever-expanding global environment,” Griffith said.

As a state-led effort, the Common Core State Standards Initiative established a single set of clear educational standards in English and mathematics for grades K-12. The standards intend to conform that a high-school graduate can enroll in “credit-bearing entry courses in two- or four-year colleges or enter the workforce,” she said.

“The standards are clear and concise to ensure parents, teachers and students (understand) expectations in reading, writing, speaking and listening, language and mathematics,” Griffith said.

Some Alabama legislators oppose the standards. “The last legislative session surprised us. We’re expecting some discussion next year,” Griffith said.

For a reservation, email to madisoncitypta@gmail.com or visit Facebook/Madison City PTA by Sept. 19.