Gov. Deal signs Executive Order addressing Common Core concerns

Today, Governor Nathan Deal signed an Executive Order reaffirmed the State of Georgia’s sovereignty and the central place of local Boards of Education in determining education standards for the state.

The Executive Order reads in part:

Whereas: the federal government has no constitutional right to determine how children in the State of Georgia will be educated; and

Whereas: The Georgia Constitution provides that an adequate public education for the citizens shall be a primary obligation of the State of Georgia; and

Whereas: Education is economic deveopment and strong schools are the only proven route to tomorrow’s good jobs; and

Whereas: Intrusive data tracking is an invasion of student rights.

Now therefore, pursuant to the authority invested in me as Governor of the State of Georgia, it is hereby

Ordered: That no educational standards shall be imposed on Georgia by the federal government.

It is further

Ordered: That all decisions regarding curriculum and instruction shall be made at the local level.

It is further

Ordered: That all proposed state education standards shall be posted for public review and comment for at least 60 days. Any proposed changes to state educational standards of any magniture shall be posted for public review and comment for at least 60 days. Any comments received during the notice period of educations standards adoption or modifications shall be made public. All education standards shall be voted on in a public meeting.

It is further

Ordered: That no personally identifiable data on students and/or their families’ religion, political party affiliation, biometric information, psychometric data and/or voting history shall be collected, tracked, housed, reported or shared with the federal government.

It is further

Ordered: That no student data shall be collected for the development of commercial products or services.

This 15th Day of May, 2013,

signed, Nathan Deal