Political Quotes

“this amendment No. 515 is in response to a clear and a growing and a dangerous trend, specifically for the Department of Education to inappropriately intervene and use carrots and sticks, and weapons sometimes, to intervene in State education policy to promote certain agendas over the rights of the States. This began in earnest in 2010 when the U.S. Department of Education began offering funding through Race to the Top grants to States participating in a State consortium working toward a ``common set of K- 12 standards.'' Over time, it became increasingly clear that this was all about mandating common core and forcing it on States. In 2011, the Department of Education took the next step. It offered waivers to No Child Left Behind in exchange for the adoption of ``college- and career-ready standards in reading/language arts and mathematics and aligned assessments.'' Again, this is clearly all about common core. Now, during a time when States are facing increasing budget shortfalls and an inability to meet the progress requirements outlined in No Child Left Behind, funding and waivers were a very enticing option. They were a set of carrots and sticks that had an impact. This heavyhanded coercion of States to adopt specific standards and assessments is unprecedented and it is something we should all be against. It goes against the tradition of State and local control of public education.…”