HB 616, a bill that would prohibit the Missouri State Board of Education from implementing the Common Core, had its second reading in the Missouri House today. It is sponsored by State Representative Kurt Bahr (R-O’Fallon) and co-sponsored by State Representatives Timothy Jones (R-Eureka), Andrew Koenig (R-Manchester), Doug Funderburk (R-St. Peters), Bryan Spencer (R-Wentzville), Bill Lant (R-Joplin), Dwight Scharnhorst (R-St. Louis), Paul Curtman (R-Pacific), Rick Brattin (R-Harrisonville), Mark Parkinson (R-St. Charles), Lyndall Fraker (R-Marshfield), Nick Marshall (R-Parkville), Sandy Crawford (R-Lebanon), Paul Fitzwater (R-Potosi),Caleb Jones (R-California) and John Diehl (R-Town and Country).
Here is the text of the bill:
Section A. Chapter 161, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 161.855, to read as follows:
161.855. Notwithstanding any other law, the state board of education shall not adopt, and the department of elementary and secondary education shall not implement, the Common Core State Standards developed by the Common Core Standards Initiative. Any actions taken to adopt or implement the Common Core State Standards as of the effective date of this section are void. Common Core State Standards or any other statewide education standards shall not be adopted or implemented without the approval of the general assembly.