Unclear If Common Core Will Be Discussed At Gov. Haslam’s Education Summit, But Protests Still Planned

After a Farmers Insurance event Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Bill Haslam would not specify his education summit’s agenda. Credit: Emily R. West.

Governor Bill Haslam’s office is being vague about the details of Thursday’s education summit, an event announced more than two weeks ago.

A Haslam spokesman said the gathering is expected to cover the state’s history of education reform and current data on Tennessee’s progress. But the administration has not disclosed a list of speakers, nor what specific topics will be discussed.

Haslam said the summit will include a variety of perspectives on topics that interest people who follow education issues.

“So this is a chance to get a lot of people together and have a discussion that’s not meant to be final in any way,” Haslam said. “It’s a precursor to a lot of things that will happen in the year, including the legislative session.”

Common Core could be one of the issues discussed, though it hasn’t been specifically mentioned. Haslam has been a supporter of the controversial education standards amid pressure from members of his own party to back away from it.

A group of anti-Common Core activists have planned a rally on the south side of the state capitol to coincide with the governor’s summit.

Haslam’s office says it will release an agenda Thursday morning. A livestream of the gathering will be available  starting at 8:30 a.m.