Vialet Invites AFT And EEA Officials To State Position On Common Core At Senate Meeting

ST. CROIX — Senator Vialet is inviting all AFT and EAA unions Members to the next Committee on Education and Workforce Development meeting, which is scheduled for Monday, November 9, at the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room in Frederiksted, according to a press release Mr. Vialet’s office issued on Friday.

The senator is urging the members of both unions to state their position on record regarding the state of education in the territory as it relates to Common Core State Standards, including Smarter Balance Assessment and the Charlotte Danielson Framework. 

Mr. Vialet is hoping that testimony given during the meeting will reflect the “true feelings” of the membership as it relates to the aforementioned education standards.  The first-term Democrat is also expecting both unions to provide insight as to whether adequate professional development has been provided for senior teachers and new teaching staff.

At issue is Common Core’s lack of Virgin Islands Standard, which Mr. Vialet says needs to be incorporated for a more holistic education approach, especially in the areas of social studies — which would include the history and culture of the territory.

“A number of states have taken a look at Common Core, and they have merged it with their state standard,” Mr. Vialet told The Consortium this morning, naming Florida as an example, which renamed the curriculum the Florida Common Core State Standard.

The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. and will hear testimony on bill No. 31-00154 – “An Act establishing the Virgin Islands Standards Review Committee to comprehensively analyze Virgin Islands education standards and Common Core Standards, to ensure that an informed decision can be made as to the future direction the Virgin Islands Department of Education in developing curriculum and standards that are practical and specifically suited for the Virgin Islands.”