Common Core becomes uncommon controversy for GOP | www.myajc.com

Milledgeville — The most controversial issue in Georgia’s Republican Party right now may not be tax cuts or social issues. It may be the contentious debate surrounding Common Core, the voluntary set of reading, math and writing standards that has inspired a groundswell of opposition.

School boards across Georgia are embroiled in debate over the national standards. Political candidates are pledging their opposition or hedging their support. And grassroots groups are springing up with vows to fight the program, which Georgia and 44 other states voluntarily embraced.

On Saturday the forces rallying against the education standards notched their biggest win yet. The leaders of Georgia’s Republican Party voted unanimously to urge state leaders to withdraw from the program because it “obliterates Georgia’s constitutional autonomy.”

The fight centers on standards aimed at ensuring Georgia students learn the same concepts as children in other states. That goal was largely met with applause, not derision, when it was adopted here in July 2010. But a tea party-infused opposition since erupted among ruling Republicans, fueled by those who see an attempted federal takeover of sacred state education policy.

The fate of the debate could cost taxpayers millions of dollars, deepen a rift between politicians who support the standards and those who do not, and dominate discourse over education policy in next year’s legislative session.

“This is a huge mistake and our students will suffer because of this,” said state Sen. William Ligon, a Brunswick Republican who backs legislation that would free Georgia of “private interests” that he views as threats to the education system. “This debate is something that should have occurred back in 2010 but it didn’t. Now we need to maintain our absolute control over our standards.”

via Common Core becomes uncommon controversy for GOP | www.myajc.com.