FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 16, 2015) – A bill introduced in the Kentucky Senate would withdraw the state from Common Core standards, an important step toward nullifying nationalized education in the state.

Sen. Mike Wilson (R- Bowling Green), along with four cosponsors, introduced Senate Bill 1 (SB1) on Jan. 6. The legislation would void Common Core standards and create a framework to establish state standards to replace them. It reads, in part:

The Kentucky Board of Education shall establish four (4) standards and assessments review and development committees, with each committee composed of six (6) Kentucky public school teachers and two (2) representatives from Kentucky institutions of higher education, including at least one (1) representative from a public institution of higher education. Each committee member shall teach in the subject area that his or her committee is assigned to review and have no prior or current affiliation with a curriculum or assessment resources vendor.

These “standards and assessments recommendation” committees would consist of three appointees by the Governor, three appointees by the state House, and three appointees by the state Senate. It would be implemented as follows:

The review process implemented under this subsection shall be an open, transparent process that allows all Kentuckians an opportunity to participate. The Kentucky Board of Education shall ensure the public’s assistance in reviewing and suggesting changes to the standards and alignment adjustments to corresponding state assessments by establishing a Web site dedicated to collecting comments by the public and educators. An independent third party, which has no prior or current affiliation with a curriculum or assessment resources vendor, shall be selected by the board to collect and transmit the comments to the board for dissemination to the appropriate advisory panel for review and consideration.

An important provision is included in SB1 to divorce the state of Kentucky from the Common Core testing regime and the strings attached to it:

Beginning with scores calculated for the 2016-2017 academic year, norm-referenced examinations, including college admissions and placement examinations, shall not be used as a measure of academic growth in a school’s accountability score for purposes of school assessment and accountability.

While a powerful step toward permanently ending Common Core in Kentucky, the process it not without its potential pitfalls. As Shane Vander Hart at Truth in American Education said about a similar bill passed in Tennessee last year, many Common Core replacement bills end up being little more than “rebranded” versions of the same program. Even if the new state standards completely reject Common Core, it doesn’t mean the state won’t continue to allow the federal government to influence its education system. It will require public and legislative vigilance to completely push the feds out of education in Kentucky.

Common Core was intended to create nationwide education standards. While touted as a state initiative through the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), the U.S. Department of Education was heavily involved behind the scenes. Up until recently, the DoE tied the grant of waivers from the No Child Left Behind Act to adoption of Common Core, using the standards as powerful strings to influence state educational policy. The Every Student Succeeds Act passed by Congress this month now prohibits the DoE from attempting to “influence, incentivize, or coerce State adoption of the Common Core State Standards … or any other academic standards common to a significant number of States.”

Even with the federal strings cut from Common Core for the time being, it is still imperative for each state to adopt its own standards. The feds can once again use these national standards to meddle in state education at any time if they remain in place. Just as importantly, one-size-fits-all standard simply don’t benefit children. State and local governments should remain in full control of their own educational systems.

Rejecting nationalized education standards is the first step toward bringing true academic choice, and freedom. Passage of this legislation into law represents a positive step forward for the people of Kentucky and a path for other states to follow.

Even with the federal strings cut from Common Core for the time being, it is still imperative for each state to adopt its own standards. The feds can once again use these national standards to meddle in state education at any time if they remain in place. Just as importantly, one-size-fits-all standard simply don’t benefit children. State and local governments should remain in full control of their own educational systems.

Rejecting nationalized education standards is the first step toward bringing true academic choice, and freedom. Passage of this legislation into law represents a positive step forward for the people of Kentucky and a path for other states to follow.

NEXT STEPS

SB1 must pass the Senate Committee on Education before it can receive a full Senate vote.

If you live in Kentucky: click HERE and follow the instructions to help get SB1 passed.

If you live in another state: click HERE for information on Common Core initiatives in your state.

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