Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin had managed to earn the ire of supporters of the Common Core initiative after she had signed legislation that effectively repeals the new education standards in the state on Thursday. Fallin reasoned that the mere fact that the federal government has been attempting to influence the state's education policy was enough for her to decide on abolishing new Math and English guidelines that would have taken effect in the upcoming school year if not for her action.
Fallin said after signing the repeal, "There are things in the legislation that will cause challenges," Fallin said after signing the bill Thursday. "But there's also great opportunity for Oklahomans to work together. (The intense debate over whether to repeal the Common Core standards has) focused our attention on the importance of education. We are very capable as Oklahomans of developing our own Oklahoma standards to make sure that our children receive the highest quality education possible in our state."
San Jose Mercury News said Fallin's about-face on the education initiative was significant considering that she chairs the National Governors Association, who have initiated the Common Core standards. The Common Core standards, which dictate what students should be learning and know per grad level, has been adopted by over 40 states in the US since its introduction.
President and CEO Mike Neal of the Tulsa Regional Chamber is among the many critics who have called out Fallin's move, saying that the repeal is signaled a massive disappointment to educators, administrators and business leaders who were initially trying to improve the quality of education.
"Gov. Fallin and the Oklahoma Legislature have reneged on their promise to Oklahoma's students, bending to political hysteria at the expense of our children and the quality of our future workforce," Neal said.
Executive director Shawn Hime of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association said Fallin's move could throw majority of the schools into chaos as the new academic year approaches. Mercury News noted that over 60% of the school districts in Oklahoma have already aligned their curriculum with the Common Core standards.
