Scott Walker backs revisiting Common Core standards in Wisconsin

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ^ | 1-24-14 | Lydia Mulvany

[afraidfortherepublic]

Wisconsin should develop its own academic benchmarks by re-examining the Common Core Academic Standards already adopted by Wisconsin and many other states, Gov. Scott Walker said at an education conference Friday.

In a speech at the State Education Convention in Milwaukee, Walker said he is working on legislation that would create a commission, chaired by Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers, to revisit the Common Core standards, which he said weren't high enough and were being dictated by people who weren't from Wisconsin.

"We embrace high standards in the state of Wisconsin," Walker said. "There's got to be a way for us to put our fingerprints on it.

"The standards we have in the state should be driven by people in Wisconsin," Walker said.

Walker weighed in on the politically charged issue of adopting the national standards, which some tea party conservatives in the state have characterized as a federal takeover of education. Backers of the standards say that's a myth.

Common Core standards for what students should be able to do in reading and math have been adopted by 45 states, with supporters believing uniform K-12 guidelines will translate to higher student achievement. The standards also are aligned with new online state achievement tests coming down the pike.

Wisconsin was one of the first states to get on board, adopting the standards with little fanfare several years ago.

Since the Common Core's introduction, though, several states have pushed back by either halting implementation or withdrawing from national testing. Just this week, New York's Senate threatened to introduce legislation to delay the standards' adoption.

Evers said Friday that, based on his own conversation with Walker a day earlier, the Common Core standards could continue being implemented as they exist now.

"It's my belief we're not abandoning the Common Core..."

[Jane Long]

Perfect.

[bboop]

Wow, thanks so much Mrs. Don-o.