The Advocate – Will Sentell
“While state lawmakers have struck an agreement on Common Core, the compromise has sparked a major dispute on whether the accord would pave the way for sweeping changes in the standards. State Rep. Brett Geymann, R-Lake Charles, chief sponsor of the key bill, said adding three new steps to Louisiana’s review of classroom benchmarks would lead to a major revamp of the academic benchmarks. “I think it positions us to have really good standards we can all live with rather than a rebrand of Common Core,” Geymann said. Stephen Waguespack, president of the leading pro-Common Core group Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, disagreed. “I don’t expect big changes,” Waguespack said. The differing views point up the major question in the 21-month-old debate: Just what would the impact be if all three bills that make up the agreement win final approval? And how can diehard backers of Common Core, like state Superintendent of Education John White, and vociferous opponents, like Geymann, both look at the legislation and say it is good for their side? Much of the dispute focuses on how Geymann’s bill would change plans to review classroom guidelines in reading, writing and math.”(more)