Policy Forum 

# Common Core: The Great Debate 

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Date and Time 

October 3, 2013 12 - 1:30 PM EDT 

Location 

Hayek Auditorium 

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##### Featuring 

Opposing the Common Core: **Neal McCluskey**, Associate Director, Center for Educational Freedom, Cato Institute; and **Emmett McGroarty**, Executive Director, Preserve Innocence Project, American Principles Project; Supporting the Common Core: **Chester Finn**, President, Thomas B. Fordham Institute; and **Michael Petrilli**, Executive Vice President, Thomas B. Fordham Institute; moderated by **Fawn Johnson**, Correspondent, *National Journal* 

What is the Common Core? Supporters assert that it is a high-quality, voluntarily adopted set of national mathematics and language arts standards that will help transform American education by aiming all students at uniform, lofty goals. Opponents argue that adoption of the Core was federally coerced, the standards are of dubious quality, and one size simply cannot fit all. Meanwhile, polling shows that the large majority of Americans know nothing about the standards, despite the fact that they are being implemented in 46 states. We hope you’ll join us for a freewheeling debate that promises to be not only highly engaging, but highly informative.

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