This week, a state House panel in Lansing kicked off a series of hearings on Common Core. You might have been hearing about the Common Core lately. It's a set of nationwide school standards put together by the National Governors Association and being debated around the nation.
State lawmakers recently passed a budget that bars the Michigan Department of Education from implementing the standards.
Supporters of the standards - including Governor Rick Snyder and State Superintendent Michael Flanagan - say Common Core is essential to making sure students in Michigan are ready for college and careers.
Opponents say the standards strip local control and were developed without transparency.
We sat down with Michigan School Board President John Austin, a supporter of Common Core, and State Representative Tom McMillin, an opponent of the standards.
But first, let's get a better understanding of just what these standards are.
Michelle Richard, Senior Consultant at Public Sector Consultants, specializing in education policy and research, joined us today.
Listen to the full interview above.
