These days, it has become clearer than ever that Washington is out of touch with the rest of America. This could not be more evident than with the new Common Core education standards.
These Common Core standards started as just an idea when they were adopted by Missouri in 2010, but they have evolved into much more. Originally promoted as state-based education standards, Common Core is nothing of the sort. The standards will replace state-based standardized testing with national-based ones. Full implementation of these standards are expected this school year, including a single set of educational standards for kindergarten through 12th grade.
As a parent of three children – my youngest in her last year at Tarkio high school – I understand the last thing we need is more one-size-fits all education standards. Yet Common Core standards are just what we have come to expect from Washington: failed policies from elites and bureaucrats.
I have long held the belief that state officials and local school districts are much better suited to handle the individual needs of students and their parents than bureaucrats in Washington. I expressed my concerns to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. I also told him that the federal government needs to stop forcing states to adopt Common Core through what amounts to bullying tactics.
The ability to opt-out of the Common Core standards lies with the State of Missouri. But that won’t stop me from doing what I can to change things here in Washington. I’m pushing the Secretary of Education to work with elected representatives in Congress, in order to reform education standards in a meaningful way. The last thing we need is more failed policies from Washington being forced on Missourians.
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