After Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) announced his plan to remove Common Core standards on Wednesday, the state superintendent criticized the plan as “political.”
“I’ve not seen any drafts of bills, but it’s safe to say this is a political plan in contrast to our professional plan,” Superintendent John White said on Wednesday, according to WWL-TV. “It’s supported by extreme outliers and it’s a really sad statement.”
In a Wednesday press conference, Jindal said that he would support a bill that sets up a panel of teachers, parents, and school officials to approve new state standards. Until the new standards are adopted, the state would use education standards from the 2004-2005 school year, according to The Advocate.
Jindal also said that he would like legislation to limit the state school board’s ability to enter into contracts with third parties.
“The package of legislation will make clear that the federal government or third parties do not have control over Louisiana’s schools, and help ensure that Louisiana parents and teachers create Louisiana standards and curriculum,” Jindal said on Wednesday.
White called Jindal’s plan an “unprecedented scheme of bureaucracy and an extraordinarily costly maneuver,” according to The Advocate.
Jindal also suggested that he might attempt to circumvent the state legislature’s education committees, which could present an obstacle for legislation repealing Common Core, according to The Times-Picayune.
“I will tell you, not to give away too many clues, but if you read what we’ve said, and listen to what we’ve said carefully, some of these bills wouldn’t necessarily be in education,” Jindal said during his Wednesday press conference.
Numerous states have reversed or attempted to repeal Common Core standards, opting for education standard drafted within the states. And some states legislators, including those in Oklahoma, have questioned whether legislation repealing Common Core may make AP courses illegal as well.
