a:3:{s:16:"field_story_body";a:1:{i:0;a:2:{s:5:"value";s:1102:"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 />";s:6:"format";s:1:"2";}}s:17:"field_story_image";a:1:{i:0;a:10:{s:3:"fid";s:4:"3100";s:4:"list";s:1:"1";s:4:"data";a:3:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";}s:3:"uid";s:2:"21";s:8:"filename";s:18:"classroomboard.jpg";s:8:"filepath";s:47:"sites/default/files/images/classroomboard_2.jpg";s:8:"filemime";s:10:"image/jpeg";s:8:"filesize";s:4:"9013";s:6:"status";s:1:"1";s:9:"timestamp";s:10:"1363346936";}}s:12:"field_weight";a:1:{i:0;a:1:{s:5:"value";N;}}}