Common Core discord

With school beginning in two weeks and a flurry of lawsuits being filed, the future of Common Core State Standards in the classroom is in question.
School begins for students Aug. 7 in St. Mary Parish and Aug. 13 in St. Martin Parish.
Seventeen state lawmakers, including two representing portions of St. Mary Parish, asked a judge Monday to end Louisiana’s use of the Common Core education standards in public schools.
On Tuesday, another suit was filed by parents and teachers who support the Common Core education standards accusing Gov. Bobby Jindal of illegally meddling in education policy.
St. Mary Parish Superintendent Donald Aguillard said Tuesday via email that district personnel will be ready regardless what standards they are instructed to use.
“Several years ago, Louisiana had Grade Level Expectations and a Comprehensive Curriculum that was considered very rigorous and highly rated in comparison to other states,” Aguillard said.
“St. Mary instructional personnel developed a roadmap to bridge the Comprehensive Curriculum to the emerging Common Core. Thus, should uncertainty rein regarding what curriculum Louisiana will embrace; we feel confident that a similar curriculum roadmap can be devised to move from Common Core to some other approved curriculum,” he added.
St. Martin Parish Superintendent Lottie Beebe, who also serves as District 3 BESE representative, echoed Aguillard, adding that her district will comply with whatever orders it receives.
“As educators we have experienced reform initiatives before. I have no doubt we are going to continue our efforts to do our jobs to the best of our ability to produce successful student outcomes,” Beebe said.
She later added, “As a superintendent, I am supportive of the charge from BESE. As a BESE member, I must speak up.”
Beebe was one of three BESE members who issued a statement Tuesday supporting the suit against their board.
“Irrespective of the merits and weaknesses of the Common Core standards and PARCC, the public should have complete confidence in the (state Department of Education’s) and BESE’s ability to follow the law and operate transparently and fairly. Sadly, that is not the case, and legal action must be taken to ensure justice and fairness from those entrusted to educate our children,” the news release states.
Beebe predicted the likely possibilities are to maintain the course for this school year and continue to deploy Common Core State Standards or to be immediately ordered to return to Grade Level Expectations, which she noted were rated second among states in their quality by Education Week.
“It’s not the end of the world. When presented lemons, we will make lemonade,” Beebe said.
The local legislators in Monday’s suit are Rep. Joe Harrison, R-Gray, and Rep. Sam Jones, D-Franklin.
“We think that if we don’t take some action at this point in time that they will just implement the more egregious types of Common Core program that we all disagree with and the large majority of the parents in the State of Louisiana disagree with.”
Harrison said the group has no indication as to when the suit will be heard in court.
Jones, often a vocal opponent of Jindal, said he joined the suit because the public was denied its lawful right to public comment.
“Many are afraid of collusion with elements that don’t have best interests of Louisiana or students at heart. With government, when you do something this large it should have the light of day on it.”
He also had an opinion on Jindal’s flip-flop on education policy.
“He spent four years trying to implement the process and spent the last six to eight months trying to blow it up. That confounds me … you have a responsibility to finish the job you have before you walk into the next one,” Jones said.