(Toledo News Now) - As local school districts are working hard to get ready for students in three weeks, two state lawmakers are trying to get the rigorous "common core" standards thrown out.
Common Core is a new set of state standards that forces school districts to teach a curriculum that's in line with all other districts. Common core assessments are set to kick in this school year.
House Bill 597, introduced Monday by two Republican lawmakers, would repeal common core.
The standards would be replaced by a new set of academic standards not under federal control.
On twitter Tuesday, Washington Local Superintendent Patrick Hickey said "we have spent countless hours and dollars preparing-- shameful."
Hickey also sent a letter to Washington Local Staff on Wednesday, saying "this legislation would be catastrophic for public education. It would do harm and we would be in a tailspin in order to prepare for new standards and new assessments… this is 100 percent political in nature."
Oregon Schools Superintendent Dr. Lonny Rivera also opposes the bill.
"It would not be ideal at this time," said Rivera.
Oregon reconfigured its middle schools to prepare students and staff for common core.
Rivera says he does see value in allowing local districts to have control back, though.
"We have so many people that really tell us how to do our work and many people that don't understand what we do, dictate to us how it has to be done. And that becomes frustrating because not all the ideas are good ones," said Rivera.
Rivera says the district is proceeding as if common core will be here to stay, despite the proposed repeal.
