Why Are Conservatives Still Listening to This Common Core Supporter?

Education Week reports that former Education Secretary William Bennett is leading a new education-policy group called Conservative Leaders for Education (CLE). The goal is to take advantage of the demise of No Child Left Behind to push state policy-makers to implement “school choice, local control, ‘transparent’ and ‘timely’ accountability, and ‘high academic standards’ chosen by states.” CLE is currently made up of lawmakers who chair state education committees in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Utah, and Wisconsin, and the group hopes to expand to other states. In the Education Week interview, Bennett expressed concern that teachers’ unions will flex

Common Core Supporters Launch Iowa TV Ads

In a striking development, the WSJ is reporting that the Bill Gates-funded Common Core campaign is running a TV ad in Iowa trying to persuade Iowa voters the Common Core is actually a conservative idea: “Washington incentivized states to adopt them. That was wrong and we should be vigilant to ensure that that never happens again,” Bill Bennett says. “But these sound academic standards are worth fighting for. Let’s go back to the original, conservative understanding of Common Core.” Sponsors admit they are trying to reach Iowa caucus-goers, most likely on Jeb Bush’s behalf. Will it backfire with Common Core