Romney Hints He's Against Common Core

Michele McNeil writes at the Education Week (6/9) "Politics K-12" blog about a recent comment that may shed light on former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's (R) potential plans for the Common Core initiative should he win the 2012 presidential election. Asked at a recent town hall meeting about Common Core and "the 'national takeover' of public schools," Romney suggested that "he's not a big fan of the Common Core State Standards Initiative" and "that education is a state responsibility and President Obama, and any president, should keep his or her nose out of it. He said Massachusetts standards, accountability, and choice options are working well for his state." For perspective, McNeil notes that Common Core predates the Obama administration. However, "Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan have used the bully pulpit-and Race to the Top-to cajole states into jumping on board."