Rep. Gosar Condemns Federal Overreach in Education

      Rep. Gosar Condemns Federal Overreach in Education
“When it comes to running federal programs, the federal government gets an ‘F’”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) issued the following statement after announcing his co-sponsorship of the Common Core Resolution (H. Res.476), legislation that strongly denounces President Obama’s attempt to coerce states into adopting Common Core by instituting preferences in federal grants and flexibility waivers:

“As a father, I know that a good education is critical to every child’s success. This is a key reason why I vehemently oppose national standards. One size doesn’t fit all. Adopting national standards leads to national tests, which in turn lead to the establishment of a national curriculum and teachers simply teaching for the test. When it comes to running federal programs, the federal government gets an ‘F,’ making national standards a recipe for disaster. Involvement by the federal government in education only disrupts the fundamental relationship between students, parents and teachers. Bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. don't know the educational needs of students in Yuma, Buckeye or Kingman.

“Furthermore, the Constitution is very clear: responsibilities not specifically granted to the federal government, or prohibited to the states, are left to the states and the people. In light of this, the federal government should not coerce states into adopting national standards. Education is most effectively handled at the local and state level by empowering teachers, parents, school boards and local communities to make decisions on education matters; this is the only constitutional way to deliver these services.”

BACKGROUND
According to federal law, the Department of Education may not set specific content standards or determine the content of state assessments. Since the inception of President Obama’s Race to the Top program, however, states are enticed by the potential of future federal dollars to adopt common standards. Forty-five states have adopted these common standards, which are known as Common Core.

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