Tensions Mount Over Common Core As Tennessee Senators Pass Bill To Target “Data Mining”

Sen. Dolores Gresham (R-Somerville) finds herself in the awkward position of carrying one bill lawmakers want to reign in parts of Common Core, while chairing the Senate Education Committee, which last week killed a couple others meant to go further against the standards. (Photo via tnsenate.com)

State lawmakers showed no sign of letting up Monday night on new educational standards they’ve been taking pot shots at, known as the Common Core.

Senators passed a bill aimed at concerns over the use of student data, while tensions mounted more broadly over the new educational benchmarks.

The Common Core standards are already in effect in Tennessee and most states, but with a new test currently set to begin next school year, lawmakers are suspicious.  Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman has tried to assure them student information will be protected, but even so, Sen. Dolores Gresham brought a bill to make sure:

“In these days, when events such as Benghazi, the NSA scandals, the IRS scandals, the Google monitoring, Target, computer hacking… gaining untold data on Americans, it’s appropriate that we make every effort to protect Tennesseans’ children and their families from inappropriate data mining.”

Gresham was referring to data mining on a test that may not happen anytime soon; last week a measure passed in the House to delay the assessment that comes with Common Core for two years.

Meanwhile, Gov. Bill Haslam would prefer state lawmakers just not mess with Common Core.  On Tuesday a hastily arranged charm offensive will take Haslam to schools all across Tennessee – where the standards are already in place.