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NEW POLL OVERVIEW:<br />
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Public schools across the country are making a transition to the new &quot;Common Core Standards</span><span style="font-size: larger;">&quot;</span><span style="font-size: larger;">, that will change the way math and reading are taught in 45 states and the District of Columbia, criticism of the approach is emerging from groups as divergent as the tea party and the teachers union.<br />
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The standards were intended to set common goals for reading, writing and math skills that students should develop from kindergarten through high school graduation. <br />
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But as the common core shifts from theory to reality, issues are arising:<br />
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&nbsp;1. State lawmakers are concerned about the cost, which the Fordham Institute estimated could run as high as $12 billion nationally. <br />
&nbsp; 2. Progressives worry about new exams, saying that the proliferation of standardized tests is damaging public education. <br />
&nbsp; 3. Teachers worry that they haven't had enough training and lack the resources to competently teach to the new standards.<br />
&nbsp; 4. Conservatives say the new standards mean a loss of local control over education and amount to a national curriculum. They</span><span style="font-size: larger;">'</span><span style="font-size: larger;">ve begun referring to it &ldquo;Obamacore.&rdquo;<br />
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A bill has been introduced in the Michigan House, HB 4276 that is still in committee would remove Michigan from the Common Core Standards Initiative.<br />
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On April 24 the Michigan House approved a budget that would prohibit any general funds from being spent to implement the Common Core State Standards or the Smarter Balanced assessments based on the standards. <br />
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The budget now moves to the Michigan Senate for consideration.<br />
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Let your State Senator and Representative know where you stand on the issue.<br />
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<a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/%28S%28oyzbaeey2nogzxmiabxiwv55%29%29/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&amp;objectname=2013-HB-4276&amp;query=on">This is a link to House Bill 4276</a><br />
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<a href="http://blog.heritage.org/2013/04/26/michigan-pulling-away-from-common-core/">For an article on the bill click on the following story link:</a><br />
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NEW POLL QUESTION:<br />
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Should the Michigan Legislature vote to remove itself from the federal &quot;Common Core State Standards</span><span style="font-size: larger;">&quot;</span><span style="font-size: larger;"> initiative?<br />
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Yes<br />
No<br />
Undecided<br />
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TO VOTE IN THIS POLL CLICK ON THIS LINK<br />
<a href="http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/should-michigan-legislature-vote-remove-state-federal-%E2%80%9Ccommon-core-standards%E2%80%9D-initiative">http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/should-michigan-legislature-vote-remove-state-federal-%E2%80%9Ccommon-core-standards%E2%80%9D-initiative</a><br />
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(To enter your comments click on </span><span style="font-size: larger;">&quot;</span><span style="font-size: larger;">Add new comment</span><span style="font-size: larger;">&quot;</span><span style="font-size: larger;"> after you vote.)<br />
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PREVIOUS POLL QUESTION:<br />
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Should a business owner be able to deny services to customers that would violate the owners religious beliefs?<br />
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yes - 83%<br />
No - 8%<br />
Undecided - 8% <br />
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NO COMMENTS WERE MADE ON THIS POLL QUESTION.<br />
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