State Chamber of Commerce Does Not Support Uncertainty Created by
Repealing and Replacing Common Core State Standards

RALEIGH, N.C. – The North Carolina Chamber, the state’s largest, broad-based business advocacy organization with 35,000 members who employ 1.26 million workers in North Carolina, strongly opposes House Bill 1061 which will be introduced for debate on the N.C. House floor today.

“Speaking on behalf of job creators, I can say with good authority that North Carolina’s current standards are, in fact, a positive step toward preparing today’s students for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Lew Ebert, president and CEO of the North Carolina Chamber. “Ultimately the decision we are making is whether we want to grow our talent locally or hire it from out of state. While North Carolina employers would prefer to hire locally, they are constantly offered the opportunity to take their jobs elsewhere and will likely do so if North Carolina chooses not to continue funding implementation of these higher academic standards.”

House Bill 1061 sends a signal to job creators in North Carolina and every state in the country that North Carolina is not ready to compete. Abruptly abandoning the standards and implementation process adopted by the legislature in 2011 will jeopardize North Carolina’s economic and education progress in recent years. In its current form, this legislation is not only a step backward for our classrooms but it is a step backward for our manufacturing floors to the research labs and garages where the next big ideas are being born. North Carolina must remain committed to high levels of learning that prepare each student with critical thinking and problem solving skills for the workplaces of tomorrow.

The North Carolina Chamber has joined with the voices of our state’s military, teachers, business leaders, police chiefs, parents and local chambers of commerce to support the current standards and North Carolina teachers who have been implementing these higher standards for the last two years as part of the Hire Standards, NC coalition.

Resources
The Hire Standards, NC coalition placed a full-page ad in The News & Observer yesterday listing its members. http://bit.ly/S8rpiW

The North Carolina Chamber ran this radio ad which features 2013-2014 North Carolina Teacher of the Year Karyn Dickerson discussing why she supports higher standards. http://bit.ly/1p6snbC

North Carolina Teachers of the Year share first-person perspectives on the implementation of the Common Core State Standards. https://www.youtube.com/user/HIREStandardsNC

About the North Carolina Chamber:
The North Carolina Chamber is a nonpartisan business advocacy organization that works in the legislative, regulatory and political arenas to proactively drive positive change to ensure that North Carolina is a leading place in the world to do business. Strengthening the state’s ability to attract, retain and grow jobs is the Chamber’s highest priority. Central to that effort are four “Pillars of a Secure Future” for North Carolina which include Education and Talent Supply, Business Climate, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Infrastructure and Growth Leadership. For more information, visit www.ncchamber.net.

CONTACT: 

Kate Catlin
(919) 836-1414 (o)
(336) 214-6846 (c)

Meredith Archie
(919) 836-1422 (o)
(919) 271-4274 (c)