A Republic of Republics: How Common Core Undermines State and Local Autonomy over K-12 Education
The Pioneer Institute in cooperation with American Principles Project and Pacific Research Institute released late last month a white paper written by Robert Scott, the former Texas Commissioner of Education. It is entitled “A Republic of Republics: How Common Core Undermines State and Local Autonomy over K-12 Education.”
Here is the executive summary:
In three years’ time, the United States has witnessed a sweeping effort to dramatically alter how educational systems are governed and standards and curricula are developed. With the 2009 announcement of an initiative to develop and implement common standards and assessments across all states, and with subsequent federal incentive programs designed to encourage states to sign on to this new initiative, the federal government has succeeded in fundamentally altering the relationships between Washington and the states. The United States has a history of state and local control in K-12 education, and that local control has always translated into diverse systems of educational governance and diverse standards.By signing on to national standards and the assessments that will accompany them, participating