With New Senate Bill, Indiana Would Slow Common Core Review

January 9, 2014 | 5:31 PM

By Kyle Stokes

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The “pause” in Indiana’s rollout of the nationally-crafted Common Core academic standards would stretch into yet another year if state lawmakers adopt legislation filed this week.

Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, has proposed giving the State Board of Education an extra year — until July 1, 2015 — to continue its review of the Common Core, adopt a set of academic standards and select a statewide test to match those standards.

The bill would prolong a touchy dispute over the most basic expectations Indiana sets for its students at all grade levels at a time when key state lawmakers appear to be growing weary of the fight. (House Speaker Brian Bosma called the Common Core debate a “distraction” late last year.)

Most State Board members have voted for the Common Core in the past, and Kenley’s proposal wouldn’t prevent them from re-adopting the standards without amendment. The bill also says the board “may include elements of the Common Core” in whatever standards they write next.

But Common Core opponents say Indiana’s ready to go it alone.

“Indiana’s going to write its own standards,” said Sen. Scott Schneider, R-Indianapolis, who led the statehouse push to halt the Common Core’s implementation last year.

“We’re going to have some independence from the federal government, federal involvement in education,” Schneider added. “These are going to be Indiana initiatives with input from teachers, parents and subject matter experts from Indiana, institutions of higher learning in Indiana.”

The bill also includes provisions designed to safeguard the privacy of student data, which Common Core proponents such as the Indiana Chamber of Commerce say they would support.