The first major televised debate of the 2016 election offered a glimpse into the Republican candidates’ views on a range of issues from the Iran nuclear deal to the economy to abortion. Unfortunately, education was largely off the radar. Few issues are as important to the future of our country as education is, and while Republicans are often hesitant to discuss the federal role in education – beyond curtailing it – they should remember that the most recent Republican president made education a central plank of his successful campaign.
Thursday night’s brief education discussion centered on Jeb Bush’s support for Common Core, the academic standards now being implemented in 43 states and Washington, D.C. The standards have been a hot-button issue for many Republican primary voters (and some Democrats). Common Core was created by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. But the fact that the Obama administration required states to adopt Common Core in order to receive certain federal funds has made Common Core a de facto set of federal education standards in the eyes of many Republicans. Continue reading on U.S. News and World Report here.
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