Heritage.org, by Lindsey Burke, August 14, 2013 – Proud parents and grandparents are sharing photos of their kids’ first day of school. And as students head back, many states are pushing back—telling the Obama Administration that its federal education plan isn’t right for their students.
…the federal government never knows when to stop. When [it] starts taking, it never gives back and, quite frankly, I don’t think we need a National School Board. I think that we have local school boards for a reason because that’s where parents can most influence the process and get good results.
But what the Obama Administration wants for American children isn’t inevitable. Thankfully, state and local leaders concerned with Common Core’s impact have begun to push back. After putting Common Core implementation on “pause,” Indiana is now withdrawing as a governing member of Common Core’s national tests. Alabama, Oklahoma, and Georgia have now withdrawn from the national tests. Utah withdrew from one of the testing consortia last year. There are indications that other states are growing concerned about the national standards push. An Ohio legislator has a proposal to repeal Common Core, and Florida and Arizona have voiced concerns over the cost of the endeavor. These are good first steps. But to ensure excellence in education, states should completely hop off the national standards bandwagon. You can read the Heritage proposal for how they can get started here. America has reached an education policy fork in the road. One path leads toward choice and customization; the other, centralization and uniformity. If student-centered learning is our goal, only the path toward choice will take us there—and that includes choice in standards and assessments. Lindsey Burke is Heritage’s Will Skillman Fellow in Education and a former high school teacher. Read the Morning Bell and more en español every day at Heritage Libertad. Quick Hits:
- Obamacare has ANOTHER delay—and this one may cost you.
- Why is the Obama Administration involved in a dispute between Apple and Samsung?
- Today is Social Security’s 78th birthday. How’s it doing?
- Defunding Obamacare: Much ado about a government shutdown.
- New mom? Need to relax? Head to yoga—with your baby.
- What is the “Christian” policy position on immigration?
- Do you know anyone in Fayetteville, Arkansas, or Birmingham, Alabama? Send them this link.