The Common Core State Standards Initiative sets grade-by-grade requirements for K-12 students in many academic areas.&nbsp; It was used as the basis for President Obama's Race to the Top, that awarded $4.35 billion in federal grants to schools.&nbsp; As a result, a large majority of the states adopted the standards so they would be eligible to receive the money.&nbsp; But there are many concerns about the Common Core Initiative.&nbsp; Not only does it shift control of educational curriculum away from the states, but home schoolers and private institutions are concerned that they, also, will lose &quot;educational liberty, parental rights, and local authority&quot;.&nbsp; As with so many federal initiatives that look good on the surface, drilling down exposes problems.&nbsp; Why is opposition growing to the Common Core?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href="http://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/education/item/14756-opposition-to-obama-backed-national-education-scheme-grows">www.thenewamerican.com/culture/education/item/14756-opposition-to-obama-backed-national-education-scheme-grows</a><br />