Civil Rights Group "Sees Key Opportunity For Communities Of Color"

WASHINGTON,  -- The Campaign for High School Equity (CHSE), a coalition of civil rights organizations, applauds the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) for advancing the quest for higher academic standards by releasing common core state standards in math and English language arts. Students of color and Native students are disproportionately affected by an inconsistent system of academic standards, which has resulted in wide variation in the quality of standards between states.

CHSE and its partners have worked to ensure that the voices of communities of color are heard by NGA and CCSSO. CHSE's executive director, Michael Wotorson, is a leader in the development of policy that supports graduation for all and has spent his career advocating for educational equality.

"If implemented equitably, high-quality common standards will benefit all students," he said. "CHSE supports NGA/CCSSO efforts to engage a diverse range of experts, and we look forward to their ongoing receptivity to input from the communities represented by CHSE partners in the adoption and implantation phases. Standards that do not take the unique needs of students of color into account could miss the mark and do a disservice to many communities."

WHO: Michael Wotorson, executive director, Campaign for High School Equity

WHY: High-quality common standards are a critical step in reforming the American educational system. While many things must change to narrow the achievement gap and solve the dropout crisis in our high schools, CHSE is confident that common standards will have a strong positive effect. However, communities of color must be meaningful partners.

WHEN: Interviews are available upon request. Contact Jorge Sanz-Fuertes at (202) 248-5463
or jsanz@vancomm.com.

CHSE is a coalition of leading civil rights organizations representing communities of color that is focused on high school education reform. Members include the National Urban League, National Council of La Raza, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, The Leadership Conference Education Fund, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, League of United Latin American Citizens, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund, Alliance for Excellent Education, National Indian Education Association, and Southeast Asia Resource Action Center.
CHSE is a special project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

SOURCE Campaign for High School Equity