MADISON —
Advocates and opponents of common core standards for
teaching math and English in Wisconsin were gathering for a
joint hearing before the Legislature's education committees.
While
Wednesday's hearing is informational only, critics of the
common core standards are calling for a closer look. Dozens
of tea party supporters sent lawmakers a letter this week
raising concerns about a loss of local control, lowered
educational standards and an invasion of student privacy.
Wisconsin's
Department of Public Instruction adopted the national
standards in 2010. Adopting the standards was voluntary, but
45 states have chosen to do it. Many were concerned that not
taking that step would make them ineligible for billions of
dollars in grants under the federal Race to the Top program.
