After months of debate over a set of new school standards, both chambers of the Michigan Legislature have approved plans to move forward with the Common Core.
As The Michigan Public Radio Network’s Jake Neher reports, final approval could come as early as next week.
The Senate passed a plan that would allow the state to support local schools that have been implementing the standards for three years now. The state House still needs to approve some changes made in the Senate.
State Senator Patrick Colbeck is against moving forward with the nation-wide standards. He says they threaten local control of school curriculum.
“Unfortunately, I believe that Common Core is more seen as tool for control than about true reform,” he says.
The state Board of Education chose to adopt the standards in 2010. Supporters say they simply set expectations for what students should learn at every grade level.