March 13, 2014
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.  20515

Dear Representative,

Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) recently introduced H.R. 4008, the Educational Freedom Act, which would help prevent federal overreach into the education system.  On behalf of the more than one million members and supporters of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW), I urge you to support this legislation.

In 2009, hoping to change the United States’ decline in comparative global performance on academic achievement tests, the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) developed curriculum standards for literacy and mathematics that states could voluntarily adopt.  The effort evolved into the Common Core State Standards Initiative, described by the NGA’s Center for Best Practices as “a state-led effort coordinated by the NGA Center and the [CCSSO].”  Unfortunately, the Obama administration and the Department of Education are coercing states to adopt these standards by using monetary incentives, primarily through the Race to the Top Fund.

H.R. 4008 would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to prohibit all officers and employees of the federal government from mandating or influencing state and local education content.  It is particularly aimed at prohibiting the federal government from coercing, either directly or indirectly, states into adopting Common Core.

Common Core is an ill-advised and costly experiment, with America’s schoolchildren as the lab rats.  The individuals who work in local school districts have the most personal contact with teachers and pupils, and subsequently, they are best suited to make education decisions.  I urge you to support Rep. Gingrey’s legislation.  All votes on H.R. 4008 will be among those considered for CCAGW’s 2014 Congressional Ratings.

Sincerely,

Tom Schatz
President, CCAGW