Florida Lawmaker Files Bill To Stop New Education Standards

ladybeames / Flickr

A Florida lawmaker has filed a bill which would put a hold on Common Core standards.

A Florida lawmaker has filed a bill that would put the implementation of Common Core education standards on hold until the the State Board of Education conducts an independent review of how much the new standards will cost and holds a public hearing in each of the state’s congressional districts.

In addition, the bill would require Florida to withdraw from the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, one of two multi-state coalitions developing tests tied to the Common Core standards.

Florida is in the midst of rolling out the new standards over several years. The standards are already in use in Kindergarten through 2nd grade. Other grades are using a blended model which incorporates some of the new standards and some of Florida’s outgoing standards. Next year, Common Core will be in use in every grade at the start of the school year.

The standards are designed to emphasize critical thinking skills, the designers say, requiring students to show what they know and prove how they know it with evidence. Critics say the standards will reduce local control over education, are not an improvement and will be expensive to implement.

The bill, H.B. 25, was filed by Republican Rep. Debbie Mayfield of Indian River County.

Read the bill here. Common Core opponents expect several bills challenging the standards will be filed.

Editor’s note: This post has been updated to correct Rep. Mayfield’s county of residence.