Common Core Opponents Pleased With Budget Committee Decision

Opponents of Common Core say they’re pleased that the legislature’s budget committee is requiring further evaluation of the education standards.

The Joint Finance Committee voted yesterday to require more studies and public hearings on Common Core. The English Language Arts and Math standards that were adopted in 2010 would not be rolled back; however, the committee’s actions would prohibit any further implementation and the expansion of core in other subjects.

Kim Simac is President of the Northwoods Patriots, a tea party organization based in Eagle River.

“I think it was a great decision to stop and take a look at policy that you know we need to look at as a state. We need to look at it as a people. Determining the future for our children’s educational path is something that all of the people need to be a part of and I think that common core was implemented without the input of the legislators or any of the people.”

Criticism of the standards has been growing nationwide. Some conservative groups are concerned that local control of education will be lost, while some liberals are opposed to more testing.

The Department of Public Instruction declined an interview, but in an email, spokesman Patrick Gasper says the agency is still reviewing the specifics.