Kansas House Junks Bill That Would Have Repealed Common Core Education Standards

Kansas House of Representatives has voted on March 22 junking a controversial bill that would have repealed Common Core education standards in the state. After a heated debate that lasted more than three hours, House Bill 2292 failed to get preliminary approval by a vote of 44-78.

According to the Lawrence Journal-World, House Bill 2292 seeks to repeal the Common Core curriculum standards for mathematics and English language in Kansas public schools, starting July 1, 2017. Under the bill, the Kansas State Board of Education, which implemented Common Core education standards in 2010, is also tasked to present new academic standards.

House Bill 2292 supporters have labeled the present education standards of the state as "federally-provided or required." Amanda Grosserode, a Republican from Lenexa who carried the anti-Common Core bill, also pointed out that the current education standards are disliked by parents and teachers across the state.

But the effort to boot the statewide Common Core education standards failed to convince the majority of the House. Opponents of the bill refuted that parents and teachers actually support the current standards. They also added that repealing the academic standards would give Kansas students a disadvantage especially when taking college entrance exams that are developed around Common Core.

Augusta Republican and former teacher Kristey Williams argued to Grosserode's claims, saying that most teachers in her district are supporting Common Core. "I believe our educators want what is best for our children," she stated, according to CJ Online.

Opponents of House Bill 2292 also pointed out that booting Common Core may be unconstitutional since according to the state's constitution, the board has the general authority to supervise K-12 education. "We must support public education—imperfect as it might be," said Don Schroeder, a Republican member from Hesston.

Common Core standards were developed by the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Governors Association to raise academic standards to better equip students for college or jobs after high school graduation. It has been voluntarily adopted by more than 40 states in the Unites States.