Gov. Christie visits Sharp Elementary in Cherry Hill
This morning, Gov. Christie made a stop at Sharp Elementary School, along with Acting Education Commissioner Chris Cerf, to further outline New Jersey school reform.
Christie spoke about the first round of the new Common Core State Standards, which Cherry Hill is implementing in kindergarten through second grade math classrooms. The standards will not be rolled out all at once, Cerf said, but will be implemented over the next three years throughout New Jersey’s schools.
The standards, Christie, said, are being implemented to ensure that students are receiving the skills they need to be ready for both college and a career. He added that the standards would focus more on improvement and progress, not test scores.
The four main components of the standards, otherwise known as the Four Building Blocks for Success, Cerf said, are accountability and performance, academics, talent and innovation.
Christie said the new standards, with the collaboration of educators and teachers, put the interests of students first.
“We continue to work closely with districts across the state to empower students,” Christie said. “We’re striving for each student to achieve. We are putting the interests of children ahead of special parochial interests. This is a collaborative effort and profoundly important.”
Christie also spoke to two first grade classes at Sharp, asking them what they did over the summer and what books they enjoyed during the break.
