Bainbridge Island Community PTA will host a panel discussion on Common Core State Standards tonight at Eagle Harbor Congregational Church.

The PTA FFUSE (Friends and Families United to Support Education) will present “Common Core State Standards: What are they and why should I care?” from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, March 23 at the church.

Organizers said the evening includes a dynamic and informative presentation by three education experts who will talk about the history of the Common Core State Standards and how they are effecting schools, children and teachers.

Presenters include Dr. Wayne Au, associate professor in the School of Educational Studies at the University of Washington and editor of the social justice teaching magazine Rethinking Schools; Keri Schmit, a parent of two children and a teacher at Woodward Middle School for the last 20 years; and James Wilson, a former teacher and state department curriculum specialist.

The presenters will discuss topics such as what the Common Core Standards are and who developed them, what high-stakes standardized tests do and don’t measure as well as their effect on teaching and learning.

The event is free and open to the public.