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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) has reversed course on Common Core State Standards and is calling for a review of the standards by a group of teachers and parents.
“It is time to have standards that are even higher and come directly from our own communities,” Christie said in a speech at Burlington County College. “In my view, this new era can be even greater by adopting new standards right here in our state – not 200 miles away on the banks of the Potomac River.”
This is after Christie was completely on board with Common Core in 2013: “We’re doing Common Core in New Jersey and we’re going to continue. And this is one of those areas where I’ve agreed more with the president than not, and with Secretary [Arne] Duncan. They haven’t been perfect on this but they’ve been better than a lot of folks have been in terms of the reform movement.”
With Christie apparently abandoning Common Core, where do the other presidential candidates stand on the issue?
The chart below is a quick overview of the candidates current positions. The comments from the candidates on Common Core are below for further reading.
“In my view, the rigor of the Common Core State Standards must be the new minimum in classrooms,” Bush said. He challenged critics, saying, “For those states choosing a path other than Common Core, I say this: Aim even higher, be bolder, raise standards and ask more of our students and the system.”
“Common Core is not school choice. I do believe in standards, but those standards obviously are set by parents and people who do home schooling or they wouldn’t be doing so well.”
“Wow, that is a powerful, touching comment that I absolutely embrace. You know when I think about the really unfortunate argument going on around Common Core, it’s very painful because the Common Core started off as a bipartisan effort, it was actually non-partisan.”
“We should repeal every word of Common Core,” he said. “We should get the federal government out of the business of curriculum.”
“America’s future prosperity requires that changes be made to Common Core. The facts are pretty clear, the bigger our education department becomes, the worse our public education becomes. There’s no connection between spending more money in our nation’s capital and a better school system. Parents should be given choice, competition, and accountability in the classroom.”
Mike Huckabee
May 2013
“Parents and people involved in their local schools should let it be known that core standards are valuable, and they’re not something to be afraid of—they are something to embrace.”
August 2013
“Rebrand it, refocus it, but don’t retreat.”
May 6, 2015 – Twitter
“Kill Common Core. Restore common sense.”
Bobby Jindal
Prior
Implemented Common Core in Lousiana
March 18, 2015 Press Release
“This legislation will help us get Common Core out of Louisiana once and for all. We will not accept this one-sized-fits-all approach to our children’s education. The package of legislation will make clear that the federal government or third parties do not have control over Louisiana’s schools, and help ensure that Louisiana parents and teachers create Louisiana standards and curriculum.”
“The Common Core was written by state education superintendents and local principals in my state of Ohio. We want higher standards for our children and those standards are set, and the curriculum is set by local school board. Barack Obama doesn’t set it. The State of Ohio doesn’t set it. It is local school boards driving better education, higher standards, created by local school boards.”
“That’s why we are choosing to adopt the Common Core Standards. New curricula that will prepare our kids to winners in a global economy.”
“President Obama has been focused on nationalizing what is taught in each of our nation’s schools since he was sworn into office. The President’s flagship ‘Race to the Top’ competitive grant program was used to entice states to adopt the K–12 standards developed by a joint project of the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. Also, in the President’s 2009 Blueprint for Education Reform, it is suggested that the adoption of these common standards could one day be a qualification for states wanting future Title I dollars for low-income schools.”
“I have many concerns about the constitutionality and transparency of the Common Core State Standards Initiative as well as the loss of local control of curriculum and instruction.”
“Common Core has got to be stopped in this country.”
“Common Core started out as a well-intentioned effort to develop more rigorous curriculum standards. However, it is increasingly being used by the Obama administration to turn the Department of Education into what is effectively a national school board. This effort to coerce states into adhering to national curriculum standards is not the best way to help our children attain the best education.”
Bernie Sanders
Mr. Sanders has not given much public indication on whether he supports Common Core. It appears he does support it by voting against a budget amendment that would have allowed states to opt-out of the standards without facing a financial penalty from the federal government.
From Sen. Sanders senate website on the revamped No Child Left Behind (NCLB):
“The most punitive and restrictive requirements of No Child Left Behind are removed from this bill. This new legislation eliminates the “adequate yearly progress” requirement so that there is less pressure to “teach to the test.” It supports states, like Vermont, that have adopted the Common Core Standards so students are taught the skills they need to be in college and career ready.”
“We don’t need educational standards, or Common Core, to tell America how to educate our children.”
Scott Walker
Prior
Implemented Common Core in Wisconsin
July, 2014
“Today, I call on the members of the state Legislature to pass a bill in early January to repeal Common Core and replace it with standards set by people in Wisconsin.”
