Poll: Rising Opposition to Common Core Everywhere

What a difference a year makes. Public
support for the Common Core national education standards is rapidly
eroding, and teachers—formerly in favor of Common Core—now join
Republicans in solid opposition to it.

The numbers come courtesy of an
Education Next poll. In 2013, 65 percent of people
supported Common Core. That number fell to a slim 53 percent
majority this year—much of that support coming from Democrats, who
remained largely unchanged in their overall opinion.

The results for both Republicans and teachers are even more
staggering, however. The Republican numbers changed from 57 percent
in favor to just 43 percent in favor and the teachers changed from
76 percent in favor to 46 percent.

These results are significant, since they chip away at key
assertions made by the backers of Common Core. The backers have
often maintained that opposition to Common Core stems from
misinformation and that those who understand the new standards
best—i.e., teachers—liked them just fine. That is clearly no longer
true.

The poll does demonstrate support among people for the general
concept of national standards when the Common
Core label is dropped from the questions. And it’s true
that many people remain unclear on exactly what the standards
entail: According to the poll, most people think the federal
government required the states to adopt, when in reality
the feds merely incentivized states to adopt by offering
grant money in exchange for compliance. Teachers, however, have a
much more accurate comprehension of the standards than the general
public and are against them in greater proportions. It’s hard to
see that as much of a vindication for Core backers.

More from Reason on Common Core
here.