HELENA — Senators have turned away a proposal to repeal federal Common Core standards from Montana’s public education system.
Three weeks after a lengthy hearing, members of the Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee tabled House Bill 377 on Wednesday.
Republican Rep. Debra Lamm’s measure would have removed the educational standards that Montana enacted in 2013 and created a new board to oversee state standards. Bill supporters said top-down curriculum diminishes competition and forces students to all learn the same lessons the same way.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau spoke ardently against the measure. She says the standards, which were adopted under her supervision, raised expectations and set reasonable goals for students, teachers and districts.
This spring, Montana’s public school students are taking the first standardized tests tied to the Common Core standards.