The Senate voted 33-12 on Thursday for a bill that would likely get rid of most – if not all – of the Common Core academic standards.
“It will put these standards in North Carolina’s hands,” said Republican Senator Jerry Tillman.
The House and Senate chambers approved separate bills earlier this session that would create commissions to rework the math and language arts standards. The most recent vote was on a compromise bill that closely resembles the Senate version.
The House version would have prohibited any use of Common Core, while the Senate would have left open the possibility of keeping parts of Common Core to use in a new set of standards.
“I like the North Carolina brand and I trust this commission will make them more rigorous in most places and certainly more appropriate for North Carolina,” said Tillman.
Tillman said the state would have the new standards for the 2015-16 school year.
Opponents of the standards argue that they are not developmentally appropriate for children, were implemented too quickly and take control away from the state. Most states have adopted the standards, though a handful have already backed out.
But supporters of Common Core (which include business and teacher groups) argue that getting rid of the standards now would only create classroom chaos.
Sen. Josh Stein, D-Raleigh, was one of the twelve Senators who voted against the bill.
“I don't think we need to fear high standards for our kids and for our teachers," he said. “I think they can meet them. I think this is legislation based on fear."
The bill will now go before the House, before heading to Gov. Pat McCrory.
