Arizona House Rekindles Common Core Fight

Last week there were two bills that were filed in the Arizona House of Representatives dealing with the Common Core State Standards.  HB 2190  was introduced by State Representative Mark Finchem (R-Oro Valley) and co-sponsored by State Representatives Brenda Barton (R-Payson), Jay Lawrence (R-Scottsdale), and Noel W. Campbell (R-Prescott).

First paragraph caught my eye:

Notwithstanding any other law, the State Board of Education may not adopt and the Department of Education may not implement the Common Core Standards, this state’s college and career ready standards or any other standards or assessments that are aligned with standards or assessments proposed by the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers.  Any actions that were previously taken to adopt or implement standards or assessments that conflict with this section are void on the effective date of this section.

That pretty much covers it, but just in case…

The state board of education is the sole authority for adopting academic content standards for this state’s public schools and shall adopt academic content standards of the state board’s choosing.  An official of this state, whether appointed or elected, may not join any consortium, association or other entity on behalf of this state or a state agency if the membership would require this state to cede any measure of control over education, including academic content standards and assessments of those standards.

The bill then addresses how new state standards would be adopted and implemented requiring public hearings.  It also states clearly that state education funds can not be held over the heads of schools that do not implement the standards.  There is also data protection language in the bill.  Be sure to read it for yourself.

State Representative Lawrence also sponsored his own legislation HB 2392 that is much shorter.

Notwithstanding any other law, the State Board of Education may not implement the Common Core State Standards, this state’s college and career ready standards or any other standards or assessments that are developed outside this state.  Any rules that were previously adopted by the State Board of Education and that conflict with this subsection are void on the effective date of this section.

And in case this bill wasn’t clear enough – no rebranding!

Not withstanding any other law, the State Board of Education may not adopt or revise standards in a manner that would effectively implement the Common Core Standards, this state’s college and career ready standards or any other standards or assessments that are developed outside this state.  Any rules that were previously adopted by the State Board of Education and that conflict with this subsection are void on the effective date of this section.