The Common Core Referendum That Wasn’t

By Karen Nussle, Executive Director of the Collaborative for Student Success

As election results piled in last week, it was evident early that Tuesday was going to be a good night for Republicans. Perhaps instinctively, commentators readied their pens to describe the lashing Common Core Standards had surely suffered. After all, over the past 18 months vocal critics had assured us this election cycle was a referendum on, and a likely death knell for, the high education standards.

Except that it wasn’t.

Once the post-election dust settled, it became clear Common Core State Standards were not the divisive wedge opponents had hoped for. In fact, what was truly striking was the fact that those to get elected on anti-Common Core platforms were the outliers, not the norm. Despite more than a year-and-a-half of concerted efforts to rally support against the Standards, candidates and voters overwhelmingly resisted the pressure to call for their repeal.

Of the 36 gubernatorial races decided Tuesday, Common Core Standards played a notable role in only four races—Arizona, Colorado, New York and Pennsylvania—and among those, the candidate most supportive came out on top in all but Arizona. In 12 other states, incumbent governors who strongly support the Standards handily won reelection, most by healthy margins.

For a long time opponents have shouted from the rooftops that momentum against the Common Core Standards is mounting. But an objective look at how Common Core Standards are faring within states paints a much different picture. Consider this:

• 38 of 44 governors in states implementing the Common Core Standards have expressed no interest in repealing the Standards;
• 39 of 44 state superintendents in Common Core states have not taken steps to repeal the Standards; and
• Within the 44 states where Common Core is on the books, only six governors and four superintendents have sought to repeal it.

That seems like a far cry from the narrative critics have worked hard to spin. In reality, under much less fanfare, policymakers, educators and parents are dutifully working at the state and local level to tailor the Standards to their needs and ensure they are helping students achieve their full potential.

What we saw from last week’s elections, much like we’ve seen in states across the country benefitting from implementation of the Common Core, is that moderation is trumping calls from the extremes of both parties to abandon the Standards.

As I wrote in a , Republicans’ historic win on Election Day can be credited largely to meticulous efforts to crowd out dogmatic, polarizing candidates in favor of those with broad appeal and leadership qualifications. Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a strong supporter of Common Core Standards, is a perfect example. As the Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin , “Maybe his formula is the one to look to as a model to expand the GOP.”

If Common Core critics were looking for vindication in Tuesday’s returns, they didn’t find it. Instead, voters demonstrated they weren’t prepared to walk away from the hard work they have invested in the Common Core Standards. Implementation has not always been easy. But the Standards have demonstrated remarkable resiliency because parents and educators support high education standards and increased accountability.

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