So Who Is Pulling the CCSS Strings?

One of the sensitive questions revolving around Common Core State Standards (CCSS) is whether it is a federally instigated program.  That this is a sensitive issue is quite clear given the fervent denials by those who support the plan.

Getting to the bottom of the issue should be quite simple, but I’m inclined to believe that nothing involving the government is quite that simple any more.  I have a very distinct (and Machiavellian) sense that those pushing CCSS learned their lesson some time ago regarding the sensitivities of their opposition.  In this case, I think they knew quite well what the knee jerk reaction to their educational coup d’etat would be and consequently planned some very adroit maneuvers and strategies to head them (us) off at the pass.

Opposition to any federal intervention into school curricula is considerable across a wide spectrum.  Well, it is across that part of the spectrum that has children, isn’t unionized, and is relatively well informed.  So rather than fight a hard and time consuming battle,  they all agreed one night (under a full moon shining through the dead limbs of a lightning struck oak) to make it look like it was a state and private sector inspired effort.  “Yeah, that’s the ticket!  Let’s sell the idea to some state guys and let them handle the ball for the first few downs.”

Well, their proxies almost scored before they returned the ball to the first string.  Their success came quickly, smoothly and most importantly, was way below the radar and scrutiny of those who would ask the most uncomfortable questions if ever an inkling was had.  By 2011, CCSS was almost a fait accompli, a done deal, with 47 states signing on.  What a heady, exuberant feeling must have come over that cabal of “educators”, publishers, and hard-core believers when they finally and so easily realized their goal!

But, alas, someone did get an inkling and began to scrutinize the core of Common Core.  And, as it does so readily these days, the word spread about what was found.  The questions CCSSers dreaded most were asked: “Is this a take over of public education by the feds?  Is “national” intentionally being redefined as  “federal”?  Yes to both in my opinion.

Let’s get back to the question and try to figure out what’s going on here.

First, it is ostensibly true that the original impetus for the creation and adoption of  Common Core State Standards came from two non-federal government groups: the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Governors Association.  On this simple fact hinges the assurance of CCSS supporters that this is not a federal take-over of public schools.  (For the time line and a more detailed description of its beginnings there is a good history HERE.)

However, and it’s a big however, as forward looking and honest as these groups may have been, they served well the purpose of those whose clandestine desire was to see a nationalization of education.  Were these originating groups really autonomous of federal control?   They probably were, at least overtly.  Unfortunately, what they have created is most assuredly not.  Almost immediately the corrupting influence of federal money was dangled before the many state governments who almost to a one were significantly strapped for cash.  With all the promises of a golden era for American education that would result from the adoption of CCSS, the path seemed clear and free of any input from the public or its representatives.  In most cases, if not all, the decision to accept CCSS was made by state education supervisors and governors.

What strings were attached?  Waivers for No Child Left Behind (NCLB) would be withdrawn if a state didn’t sign on to CCSS.  That was a significant monetary threat in itself.  Next came the promise of Race to the Top (RTTT) grants by the Obama administration for those that signed on.

Having an 800 pound gorilla in the room is one thing – having him lean on you is quite another.  If the federal government wasn’t involved in CCSS it sure wasn’t acting like it.

So, as a simple matter of fact, it appears that the take over of CCSS by the Feds is well on its way, whether they actually initiated it or not.  Nothing like a good plan coming together!  To underline this, just last week the Washington Post reported that Education Secretary Arne Duncan was “giving states some flexibility in regard to when they had to use student scores from new Common Core-aligned standardized tests to evaluate teachers”.  That’s mighty big of him but what the heck does he have to do with it anyway, if CCSS is not a federal program?

That’s an easy one to answer, isn’t it?