North Carolina Chamber ‘A force for business. iG March 12, 2015 Ms. Tammy Covil Co-Chair N.C. Academic Standards Review Commission 1301 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699 Dear Chairman Covil, Thank you for your response to the North Carolina Chamber comments submitted to the Academic Standards Review Commission co-chairs on February 17, 2015. As you will recall, those recommendations were submitted as public comment on a draft ASRC work plan. We felt, ‘as a posted draft plan, that public feedback on the timelines and content was appropriate. In response to your feedback, we do not feel our submitted comments contain any suggestion the Commission "would intentionally lower expectations’ or place the business community voice above all others. In fact, our letter clearly reinforces the opinion that parents, teachers and students should be the focus of your effort. As stated in the letter, many believe the standards setting process has lacked sufficient voice from those groups in the past. Therefore, the ‘Commission's work can lend them additional attention. However, we believe the business voice is also critically important in education. The NC ‘Chamber's 35,000 members employ 1.26 million workers in the state. Many of those employers and employees are parents and former students of North Carolina’s public schools. In some cases, our members are former educators themselves. ‘Our members know North Carolina faces a skills gap within its current workforce. That's why teachers, parents and students have clamored for opportunities to better connect classroom learning with the skills needed for both college and career readiness. Our members are spending an increasing amount of time working on this important issue. ‘At the NC Chamber, we also get a front line view of how our state's schools are perceived by companies creating jobs here, through relocation and expansion. We would hope all Commission members find value in the business voice as a major stakeholder in this process. ‘The NC Chamber supports actions that make our standards stronger. We are on record, and remain on record, in our support for the current standards as a tremendous improvement on the previous standards. But further improvement is welcome. ‘Qur main concern is the draft Commission work plan. In particular, we are unclear how the ‘Commission can develop standards revisions at the same time that teacher and parent committees are beginning their work. nechambernet | p> 919-896-1400 701 Corporate Center Dive | f 919-896-1425 ‘Sule 400 Roleigh NC 27607We are also unclear how our participation in a broad discussion of education policy, via any education stakeholders, diminishes our feedback. We do not agree on all issues with everyone who participates in these broad discussions. But as a strong community voice, the NC Chamber believes engagement with all education leaders is critically important. Our members expect us to work with a broad range of groups to make sure North Carolina's schools are a model for the country. It is unfortunate the Commission's new co-chair has started with feedback that could be perceived as hostile with disregard for business organizations, their members and their families. In particular, we are profoundly disappointed with your assumption that the business community is “predominantly interested in protecting their financial investment.” Our members are invested in ensuring North Carolina is a great place to live, work and raise a family, and that our students are prepared for the jobs of tomorrow. Finally, we commit to you and all members of the Commission that the NC Chamber approaches this issue thoughtfully and optimistically. In return, we hope that as co-chair of this important Commission, you would consider our feedback in the same regard as other organizations, even if that feedback should differ from your personal views around Common Core State Standards and their appropriateness, ‘Thank you again for your response, and we look forward to continuing our work with the Commission. Sincerely, Gary J. Salamido Vice President of Government Affairs cc: Governor Pat McCrory Andre Peek Eric Guckian Martez Hill Bill Cobey Olivia Oxendine Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger Senator Jerry Tillman Senator Dan Soucek Speaker Tim Moore Representative Craig Hom