Elorza Outlines Vision for Curriculum and Assessments
GoLocalProv Politics Team
Elorza Outlines Vision for Curriculum and Assessments
“If we’re going to re-envision the purpose and usage of our school buildings, then it logically follows that we must also re-envision the way our students are learning within them,” said Elorza.
While the first part centered around developing full service community schools, this one focuses on the approaches to curriculum and assessments that will occur within those schools.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThis statement outlines ambitious plans for changing reforming the education system, which the candidate says is still an outdated “one size fits all” strategy.
“The world has changed, and the world that awaits the next generation will change even more rapidly, yet we are still structuring the education of our students in very much the same way their great-grandparents were taught,” Elorza noted. “We need an approach that recognizes that all children are not identical; that there are various types of intelligence, some of which cannot simply be measured through standardized testing; and that learning can happen in more places than seated at a desk in a classroom.”
Elorza calls for the creation of a system of multiple pathways that allows for more individualized learning aimed at increasing student engagement, while still holding them to Common Core standards.
Elorza notes that the mayor alone cannot enact much of what he is proposing and said he will lead an effort to engage all stakeholders and institutions in making the changes necessary to achieve this vision.
“I have promised throughout this campaign that we’re going to be bold and think big, and we’re also going to be collaborative and pragmatic,” he said. “This vision delivers on that promise. Achieving this won’t be easy, but it is our responsibility to make sure we’re preparing our students for the future.
The entire plan can be read here.
Questions Jorge Elorza Must Answer to be Providence's Next Mayor
Experience Necessary?
Elorza's the quintessential Providence kid-made-good -- and clearly has the education success story of CCRI to Harvard Law going for him. He's toiled in the legal trenches, and risen through academic ranks.
But does that translate to a business acumen and know-how to turn the city around? Brett Smiley counts starting a successful consulting company. Although a double-edged sword, Michael Solomon's got the city council experience.
Elorza's managed cases, and students. Can he oversee a staff of hundreds -- go toe to toe with the unions?
Money for Plans?
Opponent Brett Smiley might have dubbed himself the man with the plan, but Elorza's right up there with a litany of proposals for the capital city. Schools, jobs, public safety, neighborhoods, transportation, diversity, arts and culture, ethics -- Elorza's got plans for it all.
And like Smiley's grand amibtions, the burning question is how will these be funded? Elorza has a plan to double the city's exports in the next five years, with mentoring opportunities and trade missions as part of the strategy. Those cost money. Where will it come from?
Fundraising prowess?
At the end of the first quarter of 2014, Elorza posted a small lead over Smiley in the cash balance department, with $217,082 in his campaign coffers as compared to Smiley's $191,000 and change. Both, however, were a distant second and third to Solomon's war chest over over $600,000
As the Democratic candidates duke it out, second quarter filings due at the end of the month will show were the money race stands with less than eight weeks to the primary.
Of course, whoever wins will have to face a Buddy Cianci waiting in the wings, who told GoLocal he raised over $200,000K in one week -- and expects to have $1 million by the time the primary arrives.
Primary Factor?
For the Democrats in the race, the primary is, in fact, the primary concern of the campaigns at the moment, with Harrop and Cianci waiting in the wings for the winner.
Will Elorza's campaign, based strongly on his Cranston-street upbringing and focus on ethics, differentiate him from political operatives Smiley and Solomon?
The first test on the path to the Mayor's office will be to best his two top adversaries in September. Will Elorza's deep city ties and campaign aparatus translate into a get-out-the-vote effort enough to take the Democratic title?
Final Hurdle?
All of the Providence Mayoral candidates, whether they like it or not, have to address to Buddy card.
So far, Brett Smiley's been the most vocal -- publicly, at least -- in criticizing former Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci, attacking him on his corruption charges and conviction. Harrop and Elorza have been highly critical, but as aforementioned, the Democrats are focused primarily on the task at hand -- making it past the primary.
If Elorza does advance, can he count on the support of his former Democratic opponents and their backers -- or will there be a mass exodus of those who see Cianci as the more viable candidate? Republican Dr. Daniel Harrop provides an X factor in the genera election, of course, but a three-way race is vastly different animal than a four-way one before Adrain dropped out. The winner will need to secure a greater chunk of the electorate.
