To: Bishop Cunningham and Diocesan Leaders We, the undersigned, ask Bishop Cunningham and all of the Diocesan School leaders of the Diocese of Rochester to stand firmly in opposition to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and to disassociate with the Common Core Catholic Identity Initiative (CCCII) that is promoted and supported by the National Catholic Education Association. We believe that the Common Core State Standards represent lower academic standards for our children and have paved the way for controversial teaching material. We ask that all Diocesan leaders review in detail the material being promoted by the CCCII for the implementation of Common Core, as it distorts the Church’s teachings and attempts to promote non-traditional and same-sex marriage as morally acceptable, as well as other activist material. With this, we ask that you set a strong example for other Dioceses across the country by rescinding the Diocesan approval of and implementation of the Common Core standards and reject any current use or future use of CCCII resources, training, and guidance for Diocesan educators. We also ask that Diocesan school leaders promise not to collect or track data on our children or our families in conjunction with or related to the Common Core State Standards or any other state or federally run data tracking system, abide by the prior FERPA laws, and protect the privacy of our children’s personal information. We strongly believe that this is a significant opportunity for Catholic schools to distinguish themselves from a nationalized monolithic school system, and to garner renewed support from communities across the country. Parents will seek alternative and traditional schools for their children, and in turn, for future generations to come. In this Year of Faith, The Diocese of Rochester could be a true leader by rejecting Common Core and thereby leading through true evangelization.