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
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Roleigh NC 27607We 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