Legislators, educators and parents alike gathered in Issaquah on Monday night to clear the air about Common Core.

Six panelists answered questions from more than 30 parents in attendance at the town hall meeting, held Sept. 15 at Pacific Cascade Middle School.

State Representative Chad Magendanz, R-Issaquah, joined Emilie Hard, assistance superintendent for Issaquah schools; Liv Finne of the Washington Policy Center, Essie Hicks, candidate for the Washington state House of Representatives; Jason Ritchie, candidate for United States Congress for Washington’s 8th District; and education advocate Sharon “Research Mom” Hanek to answer questions both for and against the proposal.

Common Core is an effort sponsored by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers to develop standard educational benchmarks that would apply in every state, in an effort to better prepare students to enter college or the workforce.

Supporters contend that Common Core is an improvement that has been affected by distrust and misinformation, particularly by those distrustful of the federal government that has enthusiastically supported the initiative.

“The federal government’s crime was that they liked Common Core,” Magendanz said. “That poisoned it for a lot of people who are distrustful of the federal government…we really need to separate what Common Core is and what the state standards are.”

Panelists and parents opposed to Common Core said that the standards, which opponents feel are too low, are not what was promised to them, focusing more on methodology and abstract thinking than factual information.

“The federal government forced  states to adopt the Common Core by linking Race to the Top grants and No Child Left Behind rule waivers to them,” Finne said. “It will just drive down the quality of our children’s’ education. …It is not what we were promised.”

Hanek, a parent who has campaigned for education reform in Olympia for more than a decade, said she became concerned when she first saw details about Common Core.

“Everyone has high hopes for Common Core, but what was promised is not what we are getting,” she said.

“I don’t think teachers have been given the time they need to implement the standards,” Ritchie said. “I have no problem with having standards, but as it applies to teachers in the classroom, that is where I have a problem.”

All of the panelists urged the parents in attendance to take a greater interest in their child’s education, both with the teacher and with their local school board.

“Be your child’s biggest advocate,” Hicks said. “You are the biggest voice they have.”

The 2014-2015 school year marks the first year of full implementation of the Common Core standards statewide, with new assessments in writing, reading and mathematics set to take place in 2015.

Bryan Trude: 425-391-0363 ext 5054; btrude@issaquahreporter.com