Trouble For Common Standards?
Virginia decided last week not to apply for the second round of the Obama administration's Race to the Top competition, in large part because of the requirement to adopt a common set of academic standards. The administration backs the Common Core initiative, a movement spearheaded by the National Governors Association and Council of Chief State School Officers that has developed a set of math and English language arts standards. But Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell called the mandate to replace Virginia's Standards of Learning "unacceptable," telling the Washington Post: "Our standards are much superior."
Does Virginia's decision foreshadow more problems to come for common standards? Or will most states adopt these standards? What is in the best interest of improving U.S. education?