INDIANAPOLIS— National education standards known as Common Core would become void in Indiana under a measure that passed the Indiana Senate on Tuesday.
The General Assembly paused the implementation of the standards supported by President Barack Obama last year, and Indiana education leaders have already launched the process to write academic standards specific to the state.
However, state Sen. Scott Schneider, R-Indianapolis, said his bill is a “capstone” to the numerous discussions and rallies held at the Indiana Statehouse by parents concerned about Common Core State Standards.
“Some are concerned the process might be manipulated or altered to benefit those that are still in support of Common Core, and I share those concerns. Those concerns are real, but at some point of time, we need to trust the process,” Schneider said.
Schneider said Hoosier parents will become the “eternal watchdogs” over the standards their children are taught.
The measure that passed, 36-12, will drop Common Core standards by July or earlier if the Indiana State Board of Education adopts new standards before the deadline imposed by the bill.
Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz said the state is taking a three-tiered approach to reviewing standards. The approach will solicit input from teachers in the field, parents, higher education officials and workplace experts. Ritz has said the standards will potentially go before the Indiana State Board of Education for final approval in April.
State Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, said departing from the Common Core will cost school districts the time and resources they have spent to adopt the national standards.
Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corp. has already transitioned its kindergarten and first grade classrooms to teach entirely Common Core.
“What people don’t understand, there is a difference between standards and curriculum and sometimes parents get mixed up between the two and not only parents but legislators don’t understand the difference between curriculum and standards,” Rogers said.
Indiana was among 45 states to adopt the national standards. Since that time, Indiana along with a handful of state legislatures have considered bills to stop or stall the implementation.
The measure now moves to the Indiana House for further consideration.