Bolinsky Votes for Local Control of Education

HARTFORD- State Rep. Mitch Bolinsky (R-106 Newtown) voted in support of an amendment that would have permitted towns for the next three school years to have a choice to use either the Common Core (Smarter Balanced Assessment Test) or the current CT mastery exam.

“As I have said from the beginning, my constituents and I are all for higher standards. But, the way they have been implemented has been flawed and absent an appropriate level of public visibility. The implementation has left some districts less prepared than others and, in a state where the achievement gap is of great concern, that’s problematic. Newtown’s public education system is, in my opinion, one of the very best on Connecticut and ready but, as a legislator, I want to know that we are allowing enough local control to ensure that all schools are equally ready to roll so we do not widen the gap. Who best to determine what is best for a town, its level of readiness or appropriateness of curriculum to local values than the local community? ” said Rep. Bolinsky.

After forcing a public hearing on Common Core curriculum standards the co-chairs of the Education committee did not want to hear or debate, Bolinsky and other committee members listened to hours of testimony from state residents all wanting to keep their education decisions made at the local level not by the state.

The chairs of the Education committee refused to permit a ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ vote on the Common Core legislation heard at the public hearing on the last day of the committee before its bill deadline.

In absence of a bill to vote on, Republican members of the Education committee including Rep. Bolinsky proposed and voted for an amendment that would have allowed for local control of education in our state.

“I am disappointed this sensible amendment was not adopted. All the amendment did was give every one of the 169 towns a choice on what fits their local educational needs,” said Bolinsky.

The amendment was defeated 11-17.