
The Associated Press aptly defined Republican 2016 contender Gov. Chris Christie’s position on Common Core as “shifting,” a description that could easily be applied to many Republican governors who signed their states on to the standards only to be met by irate parents and teachers once it was discovered what Common Core was all about.
by Dr. Susan Berry31 Dec 2015, 5:33 PM PST0

Obama’s comments appear to be a reference to the Common Core standards – though he does not call the reform by name, likely because the unpopular initiative is now often described as “toxic” and “poisonous.” The president nevertheless adopts the usual pro-Common Core position that the nationalized standards are higher or more rigorous than other standards – although there is no independent research that validates that claim.
by Dr. Susan Berry4 Oct 2015, 10:12 AM PST0

In a remarkable admission, the former director of the Race to the Top (RttT) competitive grant program and chief of staff to U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan says the federal government “forced” full support for adoption of the Common Core standards from each state by requiring its governor, chief state school officer, and head of the state board of education to sign off on the grant application.
by Dr. Susan Berry16 Sep 2015, 11:19 AM PST0

Longtime Houston Independent School District (ISD) Superintendent, Dr. Terry Grier, unexpectedly announced his resignation effective March 1.
by Merrill Hope12 Sep 2015, 5:14 AM PST0

The Thomas More Law Center (TMLC) announced Monday that it has joined in filing a lawsuit against the governor of North Dakota and other officials that claims the state’s participation in one of the federally funded interstate Common Core test consortia and the implementation of the Common Core standards is unconstitutional and violates federal laws that ban federal control of public schools and curriculum.
by Dr. Susan Berry22 Jun 2015, 11:30 AM PST0

The authors observe that regardless of the decision in Jindal’s case, state and local school boards are facing significant challenges in “the collapsing morale and educational achievement of their students,” and need to consider their own legal path to rid themselves of the Common Core boondoggle.
by Dr. Susan Berry8 Jun 2015, 8:07 AM PST0

Christie said he signed his state’s Race to the Top application for federal funds in exchange for adopting the Common Core standards because his state needed the money, an admission many other governors are likely hesitant to make in light of the huge outcry from parents across the country against the standards and their associated testing and data collection.
by Dr. Susan Berry1 Jun 2015, 11:33 AM PST0

Potential 2016 presidential candidate Jeb Bush has made it clear that he will continue his support for the controversial Common Core standards initiative, despite the fact that the conservative base of the GOP is overwhelmingly opposed to it. His education foundation, in fact, is offering online courses for policy-makers focusing on how to promote the idea that the standards are necessary for national security, why data collection is essential, and how to win over parents, teachers, and citizens in the education reform conversation.
by Dr. Susan Berry27 Mar 2015, 10:26 PM PST0

The U.S. Senate passed an amendment Thursday that bans the federal government from coercing or incentivizing states to adopt specific academic standards, curriculum, or assessments, including those associated with the controversial Common Core standards.
by Dr. Susan Berry26 Mar 2015, 10:10 PM PST0

Conservative leaders are frustrated with Gov. Scott Walker’s lack of commitment to full repeal of the Common Core standards. Here’s a full review of his tenure, and the steps he’s taken during those years.
by Dr. Susan Berry22 Mar 2015, 12:49 PM PST0

Hundreds of millions of dollars have already been paid to corporations like Pearson, McGraw-Hill, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Scholastic, and Apple since 2012 in contracts related to the controversial Common Core standards.
by Dr. Susan Berry11 Mar 2015, 5:32 PM PST0

With conservative grassroots activists having educated parents, teachers, and lawmakers about the nature of the Common Core standards initiative, proponents of the education reform are desperate to bolster a possible presidential run for Jeb Bush, who was recently booed at CPAC by conservatives for being a champion of the now grossly unpopular plan.
by Dr. Susan Berry5 Mar 2015, 5:15 PM PST0

On Thursday, Gov. Chris Christie admitted he adopted Common Core standards because his state needed the federal funds in exchange for signing onto the unpopular education reform.
by Dr. Susan Berry26 Feb 2015, 4:21 PM PST0

To honor National School Choice Week, Louisiana U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R) announced Monday that he has introduced the Local Control of Education Act, a measure that would ban the federal government from mandating the adoption of specific standards—such as the Common Core standards—as well as curriculum and assessments.
by Dr. Susan Berry27 Jan 2015, 6:38 PM PST0

After enticing states into a binding promise to develop their student databases, President Obama now says he will call for legislation that will protect students from commercial data mining.
by Dr. Susan Berry12 Jan 2015, 6:37 PM PST0