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Tag: U.S. Department of Education

President Barack Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (R) visits with sixth grade students at the Graham Road Elementary School January 19, 2010 in Falls Church, Virginia. Following his meeting with students the President will deliver remarks on his 'Race to the Top' program and his request for an additional $1.35 billion in 2011 for the program. (Photo by

Obama: Arne Duncan Has ‘Delivered Some Incredible Results’

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.

President Barack Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (R) visits with sixth grade students at the Graham Road Elementary School January 19, 2010 in Falls Church, Virginia. Following his meeting with students the President will deliver remarks on his 'Race to the Top' program and his request for an additional $1.35 billion in 2011 for the program. (Photo by

Feds Admit U.S. Education Department ‘Forced’ States To Accept Common Core From Its Start

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.

AP Photo/Jessie L. Bonner

No Child Left Behind Rewrites in House and Senate Draw Intense Criticism From Grassroots

The House’s version of the redo, known as the Student Success Act (H.R. 5), was pulled from the House floor by GOP leadership in late February after it was determined the measure lacked sufficient support. Grassroots parents’ groups – many that have been fighting against the Common Core standards in their states – voiced their concerns that the Student Success Act still required excessive federal intrusion into the right of states to set their own education policies.

Common Core

Walker Defunds Smarter Balanced Test, But Replacement Exam Also Aligned With Common Core

Walker, a likely 2016 contender, has recently affirmed what has been true of Wisconsin school districts all along – that they can choose their own standards. To his credit, he has also proposed defunding the Smarter Balanced test, a product of one of the federally funded, interstate Common Core test consortia. Grassroots parents groups, however, say Walker’s proposed new state exam – called the “Badger Exam,” is also aligned with the Common Core standards.

AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley

Bobby Jindal on Common Core: From Supporter To Aggressive Opponent

Jindal has heard the complaints of many parents in his state and has said that as a parent himself he could see the difficulties his own son was having with Common Core math. Ultimately, he unveiled an aggressive plan to eliminate Common Core in Louisiana, one that exposed how the state board of education and department of education can attempt to work around government rules and the state legislature in order to meet its own goals.

AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis

New Lawsuit Challenges Constitutionality of Common Core

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.