Lawmakers Agree To ‘Replace’ Common Core, Though Some Uncertain How Much Will Change

Tennessee lawmakers have gotten moving on plans to rewrite Common Core education standards, though some are asking whether their solution will really do anything.

The Senate Education Committee voted 8-0 Wednesday to set up an advisory committee that will oversee a review of Common Core that Gov. Bill Haslam’s administration launched last fall.

Lawmakers have wrestled for the better part of a year over what to do about Common Core. The education program has grown deeply unpopular with conservative activists, parents and teachers. But legislators have also been forced to acknowledge that rewriting every K-12 math and reading standard from scratch is impractical.

The advisory committee, which will work with the State Board of Education, is meant to give opponents a chance to nix standards they dislike. Prior to Wednesday’s vote, some lawmakers wanted to make sure the advisory committee would have the final word on Common Core.

Sen. Mike Bell (R-Riceville) read from the bill to assure legislators it will.

“The set of standards known as Common Core state standards adopted in 2010 will be reviewed and shall be replaced with a new set of standards,” he said. “Not ‘may be’ replaced. Not ‘might be’ replaced. But ‘shall be’ replaced.”

The vote was only the first hurdle for the plan. Senate Bill 1163 needs to clear the Senate Finance Committee, and no votes have been taken on the measure in the state House of Representatives.

But if those are successful, final votes will likely take place next month.