Utah legislators officially opened the door to the Common Core debate last week during an interim committee meeting. State superintendent Dr. Larry Shumway supported Common Core, a multi-state, college-ready guideline that sets standards for students based on grade level, during the meeting. Common Core has recently come under fire in Utah as groups claim the coalition of states adopting the standards would be in danger of federal interference in state education, and the most recent committee meeting was the first step in hearing arguments for and against the educational standards.

The Common Core program was adopted by the Utah Board of Education as part of updating the curriculum standards in the state, making Utah one of 47 states to adopt Common Core. Created by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers, Common Core would allow states to exchange information about curriculum practices and compare student performances more easily from state to state.

“Utah has had core standards for decades,” said Brenda Hale, associate superintendent for the state. “We periodically update or change those standards. In the latest round, we adopted Common Core standards in an attempt to prepare kids for more than just entering the workplace.

“These new standards are much more rigorous, more aligned to post secondary expectations. It’s a whole new paradigm.”

Sen. Howard Stephenson, (R-Draper) the co-chair of the Education Interim Committee, included national speakers in the presentation, all of whom oppose the Common Core initiative. Jim Stergios, executive director of the Boston-based Pioneer Institute and Ted Rebarber, CEO of Maryland-based AccountabilityWorks testified to lawmakers that Common Core was both destructive and costly to the state both recommending Utah pull out of Common Core entirely.

“The legislature by statute has given authority to the school board to set standards and instructional requirements that the board shall identify the basic knowledge and competency skills a student should master,” Stephenson said in the meeting.

“I believe the Utah Legislature has fully recognized that federal encroachments in so many areas is not keeping in what we believe is outlined in the United States Constitution,” he added. “The federal government may be trying to do good in education, but many of us believe they have no business doing anything.”

Scott claimed the program had the opposite effect intended, rather than advance math and reading skills it hindered students’ ability to learn. And with federal grant money supporting the Common Core initiative, Scott went on to say he believed federal intrusion would siphon away state control.

“Our motivation is the same as yours, the superintendent and the folks who are here that oppose Common Core,” Scott said. ” All of us are deeply concerned for our children and where our country is headed.”

The U.S. Secretary of Education has repeatedly said Utah is not obligated to follow the Core and may change its educational standards at any time. Legislative attorney Angela Oakes Stallings also confirmed that Utah may likely change any part of the Core during the meeting.

For the Utah Office of Education, it remains business as usual. Several school districts across the state have already began implementing the Common Core standards, including the Park City School District. While getting support of Common Core has been relatively easy, the opposition keeps coming to the same federalism argument, Hale said.

“This is the political dialogue that goes along with any presidential election year,” she said. “I think when there is a presidential election year, there is much more interest in political discussion. And a handful of organizations are very concerned about federal intrusion. That resonates with a lot of folks, but our challenge will be to help people in the state understand this not about federal intrusion. This is about helping kids be better prepared for future.”

If legislation was proposed in the upcoming legislative session, Hale said the Utah Office of Education would deal with it then. Whether or not a legislator will introduce a bill regarding Common Core, the Office of Education is requesting public feedback on its website at www.schools.utah.gov.