North Dakota Lawmakers Debate Ending Common Core

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The House Education Committee is slated to hear testimony on a bill that would require North Dakota to scrub Common Core education standards for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Rep. Jim Kasper, R-Fargo, is pushing the legislation that will be debated on Monday.

Common Core outlines what skills students in kindergarten through 12th grade should learn to be ready for college and careers upon graduation. Common Core replaces standards that varied state-to-state.

North Dakota adopted Common Core standards in 2011, and began to fully implement them during the current school year. Assessments based on the new standards will start for all students this spring.

Common Core has been adopted in dozens of other states.

Kasper and other critics contend Common Core represents a federal takeover of education.