Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., will reportedly pull New Jersey out of the Common Core educational standards.
“It’s now been five years since Common Core was adopted, and the truth is it’s simply not working,” Christie said in a speech on Thursday. “It has brought only confusion and frustration to our parents and has brought distance between our teachers and the communities where they work.”
New Jersey became one of the first states to adopt the Common Core standards in 2010. Last year, Christie issued an executive order to create a commission that examined the standards. Christie has since expressed “grave concerns” about the educational standards to Republican audiences on the nascent campaign trail in Iowa. Proponents of the standards grew concerned that he would take action to undo the standards, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Now as the presidential campaign season heats up, Christie’s decision may be aimed at differentiating himself from former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who has defended his support for the educational standards. Many conservatives oppose Common Core, arguing that among other things the standards will increase the federal government’s role in education.
Christie will join Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal as Republican chief executives who formerly supported the educational standards, but no longer do so. Jindal, also considering a run for president, has sued the Obama administration for its role in encouraging states to adopt the standards.
Christie’s shift on Common Core appears to signal that he has moved closer to formally announcing a presidential campaign, which he is expected to do later this summer. Christie may address his decision to back away from the Common Core standards later today when he appears on Hugh Hewitt’s radio show.
