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DeSantis signs executive order to abolish Common Core in Florida

Published  January 31, 2019 5:11pm EST
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FOX 13 Tampa Bay

CAPE CORAL, Fla. (FOX 13) - In another reversal of former Florida Gov. Scott's policies, Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered an end to Common Core-type educational standards in Florida.

DeSantis’ executive order directs Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran to develop a road map for a new way to educate the sunshine state’s students.

Florida moved to a Common Core-type system under former Gov. Rick Scott, a change aimed at matching standards for other students in the U.S.

State leaders made some tweaks to Common Core, and re-branded it as ‘Florida Standards’ but they remain very similar to Common Core.

State governors - not the federal government - developed Common Core and former Gov. Jeb Bush did everything he could to sell it as "fewer, higher expectations, critical thinking skills, benchmarked to the best in the world."

Critics of Common Core, including Tea Party groups, said it would take away local control and dumb down our schools. Meanwhile, many parents had trouble understanding some of the teaching methods and found it confusing, particularly some of the math.

“One of the things we would constantly hear about on the campaign trail was a lot of frustration from parents in particular with this idea of Common Core," said Gov. DeSantis. "When you complained... I heard you. I told you I'd do something about it. And today we are acting to bring promises to reality."

DeSantis gave the order to replace Common Core-type standards with a new system that increases the quality of curriculum, and places a higher emphasis on teaching civics.

Florida education standards will not change this year. Gov. DeSantis said he and Commissioner Corcoran will seek input from teachers and parents, then present a reform plan to the legislature, to enact in 2020.

It wasn't the newly-minted governor's only education-related announcement this week.

Wednesday, at a news conference at Tampa Bay Technical High School, Gov. DeSantis announced an executive order he said would help Florida students get degrees and jobs through education programs focused on in-demand skills. 

Wednesday's order also called for a faster path to reach an associate's degree at a state college or university.