Common Core: a backlash roundup

Kevin Richert | 05/30/2014

Will other states follow Indiana in repealing the Common Core standards in math and English language arts?

Common Core hearing — The Legislature’s education committees held a question-and-answer session on the Idaho Core Standards earlier this year — but lawmakers have made no serious attempt to repeal the standards.

For some national perspective, here’s a link to a Thursday New York Times article. The quick rundown: bills to repeal the standards are on the governors’ desks in Oklahoma and South Carolina, and Missouri is considering a bill to replace the standards within two years.

Spokespersons for Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin and Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon were noncommittal, while a spokesman for South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley signaled support for a repeal.

One Common Core backer downplayed the developments. “Even with all the noise and bombast,” Michael J. Petrilli, education analyst at the right-leaning Thomas B. Fordham Institute, told the Times, “40-plus states are still standing with the Common Core.”

One such state is Idaho, where the standards continue to have backing from Gov. Butch Otter and Democratic opponent A.J. Balukoff and the two candidates for state schools superintendent, Democrat Jana Jones and Republican Sherri Ybarra.

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 35 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. He can be reached at [email protected]