Gov. Bobby Jindal Takes The Fight To Obama’s Doorstep, Files Lawsuit Over Common Core

Gov. Bobby Jindal Takes The Fight To Obama’s Doorstep, Files Lawsuit Over Common Core

Associated Press - Tim Mueller

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has filed a lawsuit against the Obama Administration which he says is his attempt to stop the U.S. Department of Education from imposing a “national curriculum” on America’s schoolchildren.

Jindal says the federal government is using coercive techniques to make states comply with Common Core standards. He says the “Race To The Top” grant program is being manipulated to put states who don’t comply with the standards at risk to lose billions of federal grant money. The Christian Science Monitor reports:

“Louisiana now finds itself trapped in a federal scheme to nationalize curriculum,” the lawsuit says. “What started as good state intentions has materialized into the federalization of education policy through federal economic incentives and duress.”

The Governor argues that the Common Core standards violate the Constitution’s state sovereignty clause and laws that prohibit “national control of education content,” CSM reports.

“The federal government has hijacked and destroyed the Common Core initiative,” Jindal said in a statement. “Common Core is the latest effort by big government disciples to strip away state rights and put Washington, D.C., in control of everything.”

Twelve other states have either dropped Common Core from their state curricula, are reviewing or revising the program, or never implemented the program at all. From U.S. News:

In his own party, Jindal does not enjoy total support for his cause. Former governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee recently urged conservatives to stop fighting Common Core and instead work to “rebrand” and improve it.
Governor Jindal had publicly supported the program until last year, The Washington Post reports.
Jindal is planning to file the suit on Wednesday in federal court in Baton Rouge.