Florida School District Goes Rogue on Common Core

While the Florida Department of Education has modified national Common Core Standards to quell concerns about the viability of the benchmarks, that’s not good enough for Lee County.

In a 3-to-2 vote, Lee County School Board members voted Wednesday night to opt out of standardized testing. Not just Common Core standardized tests, but all statewide tests, Channel 10 News reported. The district is the first in the state to do so.

While the implications of making such a move are unclear, board member Don Armstrong says the move was necessary.

“Sometimes it takes an act of civil disobedience to move forward,” Channel 10 quoted Armstrong as saying. “We cannot allow the fear to hold us back.”

Earlier this month, Armstrong explained his reasons for wanting to opt out of statewide testing.

“A lot of our money is being poured out of this county to go to one company,” he said, adding that it was time for Lee County residents to take their county back.

While those against the implementation of Common Core standards supported the board’s decision, Lee County School Superintendent Nancy Graham isn’t so sure it was the right move.

“This will hurt children. There is no way around it,” she was quoted by News Press as saying.

School district attorney Keith Martin said it is unclear what actions the state might take following the board’s vote. Board members, he said, could possibly be removed from their seats.

The Lee County vote came on the same day Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal filed a lawsuit in federal court against the U.S. Department of Education. That suit accuses the department of coercing states to accept the government-mandated Common Core standards or face financial repercussions. It alleges violations of the Constitution’s 10th Amendment, which provides for states’ rights, according to The Washington Post.

Common Core has been a national bone of contention. States, such as Oklahoma and South Carolina have opted out entirely, while others, like Florida, have modified the standards. The new standards were introduced on the federal level as a way to create national educational benchmarks. Some states, and school districts, as is the case in Lee County, say that’s an overreach of federal power.

“Stop Common Core” groups have sprung up on social media sites with many states across the country each having their own. Articles have also been published that demonstrate what parents say are “ridiculous” test questions and impossible-to-understand lesson.

Gov. Rick Scott has raised questions about standardized testing himself. An investigation into the subject as announced as part of his re-election platform earlier this week.

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