Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest Issues Statement in Support of Legislative Action to Replace Common Core Standards in North Carolina | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    Raleigh, NC     Today, Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest, responding to legislative action to replace Common Core State Standards in North Carolina, issued the following statement:

    "Today is a great day for education in North Carolina. The General Assembly listened to the voices of thousands of parents, teachers, administrators and concerned citizens about the issues with Common Core. I would like to thank the Senators and Representatives who had the courage to do what is right for our children and our state in the face of opposition. This legislative action allows North Carolina to develop its own rigorous standards, created by its own teachers, school administrators, business leaders and parents." - Lt. Governor Dan Forest (Audio Statement by Lt. Governor Dan Forest can be found here.)

    Background:

    Today, the legislation was introduced by the Legislative Research Commission on Common Core State Standards that will do the following if signed into law:

    • Common Core will be removed from existing General Statute, allowing the State Board of Education to replace it with standards developed in North Carolina.

    • North Carolina will remove the copyright restrictions that prevent the state from changing or replacing the standards. If signed into law, our standards will officially become the "North Carolina Standard Course of Study."

    • An Academic Standards Review Commission will be created to review standards and recommend changes for English and Math. This Commission will consist of North Carolina parents, teachers, curriculum experts and elected officials.

    • The Commission will receive direct public input from North Carolinians about changes to standards.

    • The legislation will allow the Commission to make necessary, immediate recommendations to the State Board of Education throughout the two-year review process. This will allow our state to correct any major areas of concern that North Carolinians have with the current standards.

    Contact:

    Kami Mueller
     Director of Communications, Lt. Governor of North Carolina, Dan Forest

    P: (919) 508-0109 •  C: (765) 215-1334  •  kami.mueller@nc.gov  •  kami.mueller@me.com