Legislation to create an evaluation of common core standards in the state fails Thursday in the Senate. Senate Bill 62 creates a council of teachers, legislators, parents, and various other representatives that would hold public hearings and discuss common core standards, the Dakota STEP Tests, and smarter balanced assessments. Some legislators question why the study was needed when teachers have already adopted the standards. Senator David Omdahl opposes the legislation.
“Senate Bill 62 is about protecting and pushing a curriculum, not about standards—look at what common core involves. Even if the council were to find fault in the common core standards, this bill does not allow the Governor or the council to take any action. Therefore, this bill does nothing constructive. It is a waste of time and a waste of money. In my opinion, Senate Bill 62 is not about analyzing and creating public policy,” Omdahl says.
Supporters of an amendment to change funding for the council from $100,000 to $1 say it would allow the legislature more say in its outcome, but opponents question why supporters wouldn’t fund something they wanted. The final vote on the bill fails to get the two-thirds approval it needs to pass.