A state district court judge today dismissed a lawsuit seeking to end Louisiana’s use of the Common Core education standards in public schools that was filed by 17 state lawmakers and supported by Gov. Bobby Jindal.
The lawsuit, tossed out by 19th Judicial District Court Judge Tim Kelley, alleged the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state Department of Education did not follow an act requiring public notice and legislative oversight when adopting the standards.
State Education Superintendent John White, a Common Core supporter, issued a statement this afternoon saying the ruling “is another validation that there is no academic or legal basis for the extremist path.”
Jindal issued his own statement shortly after White, in which the governor says he’s disappointed in the ruling and that he supports the lawmakers in their appeal. Jindal—who formerly supported Common Core before announcing his opposition last year—maintains BESE violated the Administrative Procedures Act when adopting the standards.
“The Administrative Procedures Act ensures that before agencies adopt rules and regulations, they get input from stakeholders and the public,” Jindal says in the statement. “BESE did not follow this public process before adopting Common Core. We are also pursuing legislation to make clear that public agencies must follow the APA before adopting rules and regulations.”
Jindal also notes that his administration continues to fight Common Core in federal court. Late last month, a federal judge refused to throw out Jindal’s suit against President Barack Obama’s administration over the standards.
White calls attempts to derail Common Core now—five years after Louisiana adopted the standards—an “extremist, political path,” noting 99% of Louisiana students took the Common Core tests just two weeks ago for the first time.
“As we look toward the future, two visions have emerged to maintain Louisiana standards and a Louisiana test. The responsible, professional path is to review and monitor the state’s academic standards, making adjustments where appropriate,” White says. “The extremist, political path is to throw away five years of hard work and make teachers do it all over again. Today’s court decision, dismissing an attempt by the governor and legislators to force teachers back to the drawing board, is another validation that there is no academic or legal basis for the extremist path. Louisiana deserves a professional plan, not a political plan.”
