Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, called in to the Leland Live program Thursday evening to discuss language that had been inserted into the state’s Education Budget halting the expansion of Common Core in Alabama.
“Some school boards have been going gangbusters trying to put Common Core in,” Beason said. “The language that we inserted into the budget says they have to stop where they are with math and english. They can’t adopt social studies or science.”
The exact language used in the budget reads as follows:
The funds appropriated above shall not be used to implement standards, programs, or student assessments created by the Common Core State Standards Initiative after Apri 1, 2013.
Beason also discussed in vague terms a “Common Core Moratorium” and “Local Option” bill that may soon serve as a palatable compromise between pro and anti-Common Core groups.
“We’re really working to get a compromise hammered out,” he said. “I’m for full out repeal, but not everyone agrees. So we’ve been discussing a moratorium. It’s basically saying, let’s not be so gung-ho, take a step back and look at it.”
Beason also said part of the bill would give local school boards greater control over what they do when it comes to Common Core.
“[The bill] would give control to local school boards. They could get out of Common Core and rely on old standards,” Beason said. “They couldn’t make their standards lower, but they could get out of Common Core. Let’s see which one really works out the best. If 2-3 years from now Common Core really is this education panacea some people say it is, then we’ll be great with it. But I don’t think it will be.”
Since Beason’s call, Yellowhammer has been able to acquire more details on the potential Common Core Moratorium and Local Option.
Here’s what you need to know:
Curriculum Standards Moratorium
The Legislature would establish a moratorium on the creation, adoption, or modification of any standards or curriculum based on Common Core into subject matters beyond math and english.
The moratorium would extend until January 1, 2017.
Existing Curriculum Standards
Local school systems would have the option of continuing the current math and english curriculums based on Common Core or pursue a different curriculum of their choosing in those subjects.
All state funding would continue without penalty, irrespective of the choice made by the local school system.
Independent Evaluation
The Legislature would create a mechanism or advisory board, which would be responsible for independently evaluating the testing and results of testing of all public schools, and compare the results of schools based on the curriculum in place and being used.
The results of the evaluation would be reported to the Legislature at the start of the 2016 and 2017 legislative sessions.
Leland Live host Leland Whaley asked Sen. Beason during his call into the show Thursday evening why he thought a compromise finally seemed possible after anti-Common Core bills failed to gain traction to this point.
“People are more and more aggravated about Common Core as word gets out,” Beason said. “The Legislature is responding. This is really a grassroots movement bubbling up from the public. The Legislature is finally starting to move on it.”
Follow Cliff on Twitter @Cliff_Sims
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.