Arizona lawmakers may stop the state from moving ahead with national education standards known as Common Core. They’re debating a bill that would allow the state to develop alternative academic achievement goals.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas wants to end Arizona’s participation in Common Core so parents can have a stronger voice in their children’s education. But opponents said not so fast.
Christine Thompson, executive director of the state Board of Education, said the bill is a step backward after five years of work to get Common Core going.
“The board supports taking the standards we have now and having a thorough vetting and really increasing our expectations out of our students instead of throwing the baby out with the bath water,” Thompson said.
Among other things, House bill 2190 would require the Arizona Education Board to hold statewide public hearings on any future academic standards it would adopt to replace Common Core.
The measure was introduced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers.
Correction: Edited to show correct name of House bill 2190. Jan. 28, 2015