August 9, 2013
[Madison, Wisc…] Despite a recent Wisconsin budget amendment seemingly requiring investigative hearings on Common Core Standards before implementation, grassroots groups opposed to the federal program are sounding the alarm criticizing legislators for not scheduling the hearings as promised.Grassroots organizations have been voicing their opposition to the Common Core Standards recently, and their lobbying effort led to an amendment to the budget that would put a pause on the implementation of some of the standards. The amendment requested the Joint Legislative Council to setup a study committee and hold public hearings on the issue.
The language in the budget does not require a study committee to be formed. However, it says that at least three public hearings on Common Core Standards must be scheduled prior to November 1, 2013 if such a committee is created. No committee has been formed, and no public hearings have be scheduled.
Click here to see an open letter from Wisconsin grassroots groups to Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, and Governor Scott Walker over their concerns with Common Core Standards and the need for public hearings.