The state Legislature is a step closer to reinstating funding for a new set of school standards. Earlier this year, lawmakers barred Michigan education officials from spending money to implement the Common Core State Standards.
Today, the state Senate passed a resolution that would continue the funding under certain conditions.
“School districts all around the state have implemented Common Core or have been in the implementation stages … of implementing something that was agreed to and supported by the Board of Education, I think, in 2010,” said state Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe). “So it’s been around for three years.”
Among other things, the resolution says the standards cannot dictate curriculum to local schools.
“That’s something, I believe, needs to be addressed in the longer-term in a more forceful action by the Legislature, along with the governor, to ensure that Michigan is in charge of its own destiny,” said state Sen. John Moolenaar (R-Midland), one of the opponents of Common Core.
The resolution would allow state education officials to continue support for local schools that are already implementing Common Core.
The state House could give the measure final approval as early as next week. Superintendent Mike Flanagan has already told education officials to resume work on Common Core.
