St. Charles Republican: We will continue to investigate Common Core Standards

In her latest newsletter, Rep. Anne Zerr, R-St. Charles, talks about her work on the House Interim Committee on Education.)

A House interim committee hit the road recently to take input from Missouri citizens on the most pressing issues currently facing the state’s system of education.  The first leg of the tour included stops in St. Louis, St. Charles County, Cape Girardeau, Poplar Bluff, Branson and Joplin with impressive turnouts at each location.  Citizens who attended had questions on issues ranging from the federal Common Core Standards to the school transfer issue that has been the biggest topic of conversation in the St. Louis region in recent months.

 The Common Core standards have been a topic of conversation in all areas of Missouri as the state education department begins the implementation of the federal standards that are meant to create uniformity in the curriculum.  The idea is to put states on the same page with the way they are educating young people in the hope it will better help prepare them for future success.  However, the standards have drawn criticism from some groups who believe they violate federal laws that prohibit a national program for education.  Other critics of Common Core have taken issue with the fact that the standards actually lower the bar for students in key areas such as math and English.  In addition, concerns have been expressed that the program will collect data on young people and share that information with the federal government and outside contractors.

 During the 2013 session, the legislature considered a bill to prevent the implementation of Common Core here in Missouri.  While that bill did not become law, the discussion on this important topic continues, and my colleagues and I continue to do all we can to gather all the facts on this important change to the way our system of education will operate.  The Interim Committee on Education will next make stops in Kansas City, Chillicothe, Hannibal, Maryville, Warrensburg and Columbia at the end of October to continue the dialogue on Common Core, as well as other important education issues.  The committee ultimately will make suggestions to the Speaker of the House regarding legislation for the 2014 session.