Posted on 03/07/2015 8:48:35 PM PST by SoConPubbie
Abruptly and unmistakably, Gov. Scott Walker stated a position on what nationally had become a contentious issue among conservatives: the Common Core education standards.
His one-sentence announcement on July 17, 2014 read:
"Today, I call on the members of the state Legislature to pass a bill in early January (2015) to repeal Common Core and replace it with standards set by people in Wisconsin."
Previously, Walker’s position had not been so stark. Later, after his State of the State speech on Jan. 13, 2015, it became even less clear.
All as Walker embarks on a second term and, increasingly, captures attention as a potential 2016 candidate for The White House.
So has Walker has done any sort of flip-flop on Common Core?
As we turn to our Flip-O-Meter, it’s important to note we’re not making a value judgment about changing a position. Rather, we are looking at whether Walker has been consistent in his stance, or changed it. Some argue a change in position shows inconsistent principles or lack of backbone, others see it as pragmatism or a willingness to compromise.
Walker support
The Common Core State Standards were in place in Wisconsin before Walker became governor in January 2011. State schools superintendent Tony Evers had adopted them for the state, without controversy, seven months earlier. (Evers has remained a strong Common Core supporter.)
Common Core is a set of standards for English and math unveiled in 2010 that came out of years of discussion between private nonprofit groups and state education departments.
The goal was to better prepare students for college and careers and ensure that students in different states learn the same academic concepts. The federal government has had a role in encouraging states to adopt the standards, but they are voluntary.
Walker gave a nod to Common Core in his first state budget, which became law in June 2011. It directed Evers’ Department of Public Instruction to come up with a new statewide test for school children, and that test would have to "measure mastery" of the Common Core standards.
Seven months later, in January 2012, a report was issued by the state Read to Lead Task Force, which was formed by Walker and Evers, and chaired by Walker. The report made recommendations on improving children’s reading. It noted Wisconsin was among the first states to adopt the Common Core standards, which it called "rigorous." And one of the recommendations was to ensure that the state’s early learning standards aligned with Common Core.
In April 2013, Alan J. Borsuk, an education fellow at Marquette University, observed in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel commentary that nearly three years after its adoption in Wisconsin, Common Core was little known outside of education circles. Walker "has been low key in his support, but nonetheless has been on board," Borsuk wrote. "Implementation is one of the things that Walker and Evers have cooperated on. There is criticism and opposition, but it has been pretty low volume."
So, Walker showed tacit support for Common Core during most of his first term.
Then there was change.
Review, repeal
Walker’s second state budget became law in June 2013. It prohibited the Department of Public Instruction from "directing school districts" to do further implementation of Common Core. But Common Core standards adopted by the state superintendent to that point remained in effect.
Seven months later, in January 2014, Walker went further. In a speech at the State Education Convention, the governor said he was working on legislation to create a commission (to be chaired by Evers) to revisit the Common Core standards. Walker said they weren't high enough and were being dictated by people who weren't from Wisconsin, when they should be "driven by people in Wisconsin."
Then six months after his speech -- and facing a formidable challenge from Democrat Mary Burke in his bid for re-election -- Walker issued his out-of-the-blue July 2014 news release calling for Common Core to be repealed (a stance he later reiterated).
"The declaration comes after months of virtually no public debate among Wisconsin lawmakers on the standards," a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel news article reported. "Earlier this year, a proposal in the Legislature to undo them went nowhere, with Walker saying little."
Borsuk, of Marquette, wrote: "The one-sentence news release issued by Walker symbolized how little this controversy has to do with serious work on specific aims for children's education and how much this is about politics and appealing to blocs of voters as the November (2014) election approaches."
Stepping back
As definitive as Walker’s position had seemed to become, it would shift again.
On Jan. 5, 2015, the day of Walker’s inauguration for his second term, The Daily Caller published comments from Laurel Patrick, the governor’s press secretary. She spoke of repealing Common Core -- but of something less than that, as well.
"As he works to continue transforming education, Gov. Walker will work with the Legislature on an education reform bill that includes accountability for all schools receiving state funds, as well as a repeal of Common Core," Patrick was quoted as saying.
But she added: "The bottom line is he wants to make sure that no school district in the state is required to use the Common Core standards."
That led Truth in American Education to accuse Walker of sending mixed signals.
The group, which opposes Common Core, said "making ‘sure that no school district in the state is required to use the Common Core standards’ sounds nice, but that is an opt-out not a repeal ….Walker needs to stop saying he wants Common Core repealed, but then signal that he will settle for a weaker opt-out bill."
A week later, in his State of the State address, Walker made no mention of repeal and seemed to be leaning toward opt-out, saying:
"I call on the members of the state Legislature to pass legislation making it crystal clear that no school district in the state is required to use Common Core standards. Going forward, I want to eliminate any requirement to use Common Core."
Our rating
Walker hasn't explicitly advocated the Common Core education standards, but his position has varied.
During most of his first term, the governor showed tacit support. By mid-2013, he was hitting the pause button on further implementation of the standards. In mid-2014, Walker called for an outright repeal. But by January 2015, he was saying only that he didn’t want school districts required to use Common Core.
For a partial change of position and inconsistent statements, our rating is a Half Flip.
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More on Scott Walker
For profiles and stories on Scott Walker and 2016 presidential politics, go to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Scott Walker page.
To comment on this item, go to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's web page.
IT’S OFFICIAL: THE FEDS CONTROL COMMON CORE
So how can people like Walker not change their stance on Common Core since it has “evolved” as Hillary would probably say?
Also note that it wouldn’t be surprising if Walker, and other possible candidates for POTUS, are clueless that feds don’t have the constitutional authority to decide policy for intrastate schools.
“We have to figure out a way that they can both serve back to back 8 year terms and end up with Cruz on the Supreme Court after whatever term he serves!”
Unfortunately, the media will throw everything they got at those guys and never let up like they did to Palin. They will mock them, call them extreme, if Cruz eats oatmeal for breakfast they will call him an extremist neanderthal racist oataphobe. Every sentence in every article will contain the word extemist, and they will all use the phrase “tea party darling” in order to further reinforce his extremitude.
Cruz has his own game just like Walker and the others do.
None of them is perfect.
Walker strikes me as someone who can beat both Jeb and a Dem candidate because of his record on beating the crap out of Dems in WI.
Many of the same folks trashing Walker now claimed over and over that Palin would run in 2012 and be in the WH right now.
I love when they tell me that beating Dems isn't important, while on other threads saying that Dems are destroying this country.
I agree . There are a few democrat/socialist plants on this thread. Walker as President could restore freedom in America and the Internet that this socialist monster Obama has ruined.
The most major thing Walker brings to the table is an A+ rating for enemy recognition. He knows that the democrats are not just the “other branch of the family(TM)”. Our last repubican president never managed to figure that out...
Good points , sickoflibs , only 1 person has beaten the democrats over and over again and that is Scott Walker.
The Purists and the news media imposed Obama on us.
This socialist monster Obama is destroying American and freedom. I’m counting the days until it no longer is president. And If Republican Scott Walker becomes President I will finally have some hope.
I can’t believe the damage this communist monster Obama is doing to America and freedom, and the Internet(his FCC unconstitutionally passed net neutrality laws). Obama and the news media are destroying America, freedom and capitalism on purpose.
I just fear this evil marxist creep Obama will not leave in 2016. what a nightmare this Obama has created for us in a once free country the USA. the Obama pos done all this damage with the help of the news media and the democrat party
I hate Obama , the news media and all democrats who voted for this cretin Obama. I can’t believe we are living in this nightmare. What these traitors have done to America, freedom, opportunity ,prosperity is the worst thing any group has ever done . Walker is the one to restore America , freedom and the Internet . Obama has illegally gotten his FCC to pass socialist net neutrality laws to regulate the Internet (ruin the Internet)
I agree. A Walker presidency starting in 2016 seems to me to be the last hope for America and for freedom. If not then a 1000 years of darkness will begin all caused by Obama the communist monster , the news media and the democrat party.
I see the liberal news media brainwashing worked on you.
No you don't get it,
We may have to endure a few more decades of Dem rule before the GOP is forced to nominate someone 100X more pure than Reagan.
I know this will be painful beyond belief, but we must hold out and destroy anyone who resists.
Only then will this country be saved.
After all, look how well this has worked in CA.
They would do the same to lessor candidates who have little ability to respond. Cruz gives it pretty good.
It is also fun to watch the Lorre Leftists call a man who was top in his class @ Harvard Law and has dozens of oral arguments in front of the Supreme Court Dumb.
Some would call that vetting. He has a record that can be checked. He has changed positions on several things.
Common Core was in place before Walker became governor.
He broke the public sector unions, cut taxes, created a surplus and has led as a true conservative from Day 1.
But, because he waited until last year to call for the repeal of Common Core, he is unfit to be our nominee.
SoConPubbie - you are THE problem with conservatives and you deserve the trashing you are getting in this thread.
You and your friends, txhurl, and others are the reason we never nominate decent conservatives....you spend more time undermining conservatives than you do attacking Jeb Bush.
But, you will be the first to blame the GOP for forcing a crappy nominee on us.
I do not know if you are just a liberal troll or an unmitigated moron. It really doesn’t matter.
Conservatives reject your voice. Go start a third party and live in obscurity somewhere.
You are a LIAR!
Walker inherited Common Core.
Walker accomplished other things first, then called for the repeal of Common Core.
But you find the need to swallow the liberal ejaculate headline about changing positions rather than reading the substance of what happened.
You are no friend of conservatism.
Anybody can get things done, especially when he runs away from the tough battles.
Ever hear about the public unions in Wisconsin?
Anybody can get things done?
Have you been smoking weed and drinking Jack this early in the morning?
And.......?
It's certainly hard for me to fault someone who moves more conservative as he considers more and more issues. This "He's got to have exactly every position I have on every issue from the day he was born, or I will make sure Hillary wins" is hardly a mature way to vote.
“hat led Truth in American Education to accuse Walker of sending mixed signals.
The group, which opposes Common Core, said “making ‘sure that no school district in the state is required to use the Common Core standards’ sounds nice, but that is an opt-out not a repeal ….Walker needs to stop saying he wants Common Core repealed, but then signal that he will settle for a weaker opt-out bill.””
That is close enough, The State department of education cannot and should not be telling the districts what to do.
“Call me when Scott Walker quits wavering on key policy positions and settles on a set he is going to stick with.”
His current position seems a bit more mudy but I do agree with it in that the State department of Education should not be in the business of telling districts what to do with their own money.
That said most State departments of education particularly in the South exist in no small part as a ‘middle men’ for Federal ‘grant’ funds to districts & schools. If conservative want to control education they can do so by controlling that flow.
This should be done to abolish liberal curriculum and get rid of outside leftist interest groups on campus which we should instead insist on being an uncluttered and focused environment.
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