“As The Daily Caller reporter Blake Neff explained, “While Common Core is promoted indirectly by the Department of Education, it is still adopted individually by state governments, and the federal government does not control it.”
Nonetheless, states rarely turn down the chance to accept “free money” from the federal government. Funding for education is no different. The primary financial incentive for states to accept the CCSS comes from the Race to the Top Fund (RTT). The fund, created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and totaling $4.35 billion, offers competitive grants to all 50 states based on a number of criteria. “Developing and adopting common standards” would give a state 40 of a possible 500 points. As a result, 45 states and the District of Columbia have adopted the CCSS, allowing them to check off one category to make their application more competitive. Although specifically adopting the CCSS was not a requirement, the states that have not done so never even applied for RTT funding.
Funny how Planned Parenthood, National Pubic Radio, here, the Dept. of Education, et cetera all say that federal funding is just a wee, very small, really, really small part of their sustenance.
But bring up the subject of, why not give it back then ...
It is infuriating. They say: "Hey. We aren't impinging on your (UNDER THE BREATH...snicker...STUPID) state's rights by linking the carrot of billions of various federal funding to the adoption of our (INSERT FAVORITE LIBERAL CAUSE HERE) legislation, it is completely your choice. You are free to refuse the crack...er...money. Did I just say that aloud?"