Higher Ed Utah

The Utah State Board of Education held a press conference earlier this week to announce the launch of their Common Core Academies to prepare Utah’s teachers for upcoming changes in curriculum standards at Utah’s public schools. They expect 5,000 Utah school educators throughout the state to go back to class this summer to learn more about teaching the language arts and math requirements for Utah’s Common Core.

I was one of the speakers that day, along with Lt. Governor Greg Bell, State Board of Education Chair Debra Roberts, State Superintendent Larry Shumway and Prosperity 2020’s Mark Bouchard, to talk about how important this initiative is to increasing language arts and math standards in order to make Utah more competitive with other states. By improving the teaching of these vital courses, tremendous strides will be taken to make students more successful in higher education by providing them with the necessary tools for college and career readiness. This initiative will align K-12 students with the education necessary to enter college, succeed in higher education and graduate.

This is me speaking at the press conference.

We mustn’t forget that we still have our “big goal” to have 66% of Utah’s workforce with a post-secondary degree or training by the year 2020. This Common Core Academy is a step in elevating academic standards, and an example of the right kind of leadership demonstrated by our friends at the State Board of Education and the Governor’s office. I applaud this statewide effort supported by educators and business leaders and I appreciate the preparation that is necessary on this path to college readiness and attainment.

I look forward to seeing how the Utah Common Core is implemented and I look forward to those successful students graduating from our fine colleges and universities ready to contribute to Utah’s economic prosperity.

Here’s a video of me speaking at this press conference:

Or you can view it on the Higher Ed Utah Facebook page by clicking here. (And while you’re there, how about “Liking” us?)