The House Education committee continued a hearing Thursday on legislation that would require New Hampshire to pull the plug on implementing the Common Core standards.
Among those speaking favor of the bill Thursday was Kelly Roy of Lee, a parent who says the Common Core isn’t rigorous enough and puts too much emphasis on writing over reading.
“I believe that the local government – school boards, parents, etc. – need to be setting the standards. Our children do deserve better, but I don’t believe Common Core is that better.”
But those opposing the bill say school districts are already free to implement the Common Core as is, improve upon the standards, or create their own, similar to what’s being done in Manchester.
Should the bill pass, Heather Gage with the Department of Education says districts that want to implement the Common Core would be on their own.
“We would not be allowed to help them in any way regarding Common Core standards implementation, no matter what form a school district determined that they were going to use those standards.”
Regardless of whether school districts adopt them, all students will be tested on the standards beginning in the spring of 2015.
New Hampshire is among 46 states that have adopted the standards.
