The full Senate is set to consider a bill that prevents expansion of the Common Core standards. South Dakota has implemented the education standards in recent years. But some lawmakers want to re-assess before adding more subjects to the Common Core.
Lawmakers refer to it as hitting the “pause” button on the Common Core. Right now, South Dakota uses Common Core standards to assess math and English. Senate Bill 64 doesn’t change that. But, for two years, the bill stops the state from adopting any new education standards unless they're specifically written for South Dakota.
State Senator Larry Lucas says trying to halt the Common Core now is like deciding to build a bridge – and moving it after the structure is in place.
"And we have designers and engineers – because people did look at these standards before we adopted them, particularly from the Board of Education, and they have a governmental role. And it seems to me we’re tying their hands with all this anti-Common Core," Lucas says. "The issue ought to go to them. They’re the ones that have the authority, in my opinion, to adopt or not adopt the Common Core standards or any standards."
Lucas says the Common Core is getting a bad reputation, but many critics don’t fully understand the new benchmarks.
Senator Corey Brown says it’s fair for the legislature to ensure the education standards aren’t expanded before lawmakers can assess their effectiveness.
"Essentially, the way I read this particular bill, it says, ‘Look. We’ve tried to set and raise the bar, especially in Language Arts and Math. Let’s take a year or two and see if those standards are really accomplishing the goal that was set out which was to raise achievements in the K-12 system,'" Brown says.
Senate Bill 64 includes additional requirements for public input on new education standards. A majority of lawmakers support the effort. It leaves the committee with a vote of 5 to 2 and heads for the Senate floor.
