Branstad Looks to Place His Chips on Centralization of Education
Do you remember when Republicans used to be considered the party of local control? I don’t think they can accurately be portrayed that way anymore, at least not when you look at the leadership within the party. There has been a bipartisan assault at the federal level by former President George W. Bush with No Child Left Behind and President Barack Obama with Race to the Top, the Common Core State Standards, dictating school lunch menus and portions and the No Child Left Behind waivers. Unfortunately Mitt Romney doesn’t look like he’s going to be much better especially since he’s been getting his education policy advise from former Florida Governor Jeb Bush who has been a Republican cheerleader of the Common Core State Standards.
States have, by and large, allowed this to happen.
At the state level it isn’t much better. Iowa Governor Terry Branstad’s track record on local control has been abysmal, and this upcoming legislative session look for more of the same. He’s going to keep trying to push