Gubernatorial candidate Russ Fulcher — who endorsed the new Idaho Core Standards three years ago — is now launching an online petition drive urging the state to dump the standards.
From the Fulcher campaign website:
“Idahoans want a local education system that empowers teachers and parents.
“But Gov. Butch Otter and Barack Obama want to force federal influence on Idaho through Common Core, a top-down national curriculum that puts your child’s education in the hands of federal bureaucrats, and out-of-state interests.
“Russ Fulcher will fight to restore local control to Idaho’s education system by rejecting Common Core.”
The Senate and House education committees approved a rule in 2011 supporting the new standards in math and English language arts, and Fulcher voted for the standards in Senate committee. Fulcher, R-Meridian, has also floated a bill that would require the Legislature to approve future multistate education compacts by formal vote. That bill’s prospects seem dim; the bill is on hold for a rewrite, and Fulcher is not at the Statehouse this week.
