NASBE Executive Director Kristen Amundson was interviewed by several media outlets about Oklahoma’s House Bill 3399.
In Education Week: “Common-Core Repeal Bill Faces a Potential Constitutional Problem” by Andrew Ujifusa
“…Kristen Amundson, the executive director of NASBE, said in an interview that while legislatures have a great deal of power, when it comes to altering the constitution (which creates the state school board and its powers) through this kind of legislation, ‘You don’t get to do that.’
Given the membership of NASBE, it’s not surprising that the organization is wary of any attempt to reduce the authority of state boards. As it happens, in light of political controversy surrounding the common core, there are bills in several states seeking to diminish the power state school boards now have over content standards. In Ohio, for example, lawmakers are mulling legislation that would prohibit the Ohio school board from collaborating with other states in the development of new social studies and science standards (the common core was developed through multi-state cooperation)….”
In U.S. News & World Report: “Group: Common Core Repeal Faces State Constitution Concerns” by Allie Bidwell
“… ‘This goes so far beyond saying, ‘By the way we don’t like the Common Core,’ says Kristen Amundson, executive director of the NASBE. ‘That’s really the very big concern, is this [situation of] setting a legislature up over a body that is established in the constitution as an executive agency. That’s beyond problematic.’
Amundson says she’s particularly concerned that signing the bill into law could influence other states seeking to opt out of Common Core.
‘With the advent of the Internet, a lot of people seem to take bills right off the Internet, and we do see echoes of things appearing in various states,” Amundson says. “This is certainly troubling in and of itself, and it’s also troubling because of its potential to be a precedent.’…”
In The Oklahoman: “After repeal of Common Core in Oklahoma, need for higher standards remains” by The Oklahoman Editorial Board
“…The National Association of State Boards of Education recently told Fallin about the bill’s constitutional problems. The state constitution grants the State Board of Education authority over the “supervision of instruction in the public schools.” The board is clearly part of the executive branch since its members are either gubernatorial appointees or the state superintendent. …”