K-12 Curriculum Development

http://tinyurl.com/ybqo8xe
The Houston Chronicle - By Ericka Mellon
Nov. 13, 2009

According to a report by a Texas newspaper, "Texas is in the running for hundreds of millions of federal dollars to spur school improvement, but the state's reluctance to embrace some of President Barack Obama's education reform ideas could hurt its chances."

Questions to Consider:

1.  If there is no such thing as "National Standards", should the federal
     government be able to dictate which states receive federal funding based on
     whether or not governors or state education agencies endorse the Common
     Core State Standards?

2.  Does the Constitution give the U.S. Department of Education the power to
     withhold funding from states which choose to create their own state
     standards (States Rights vs. Federal Rights)?

3.  Does the Federal government have the power to provide federal funding to
     schools and state education agencies "with strings attached"?  Will states
     such as Texas be better off than states who receive millions of dollars in
     funding, with strings attached?

4.  If common core state standards are essential for preparing U.S. students for
     competition with their American peers and with students from around the
     world, should the United States consider amending the United States
     Constitution?

Additional Resources:

Education and the Constitution

Leading Education Associations Support Common Core State Standards Initiative

A Test For Our Nation - By Linda Darling-Hammond (Nov. 21, 2009)
  
Common Core State Standards Initiative - FAQs