State seeks federal waiver over Common Core repeal

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Oklahoma lawmakers’ repealed Common Core standards for English and math instruction earlier this year over their concerns the federal government was taking over the state’s education policy.

Now, state Superintendent of Instruction Janet Barresi wants the U.S. Department of Education to extend a waiver from federal education guidelines, though that waiver that may have been jeopardized by Governor Mary Fallin signing the repeal into law in June.

Waivers from some provisions of the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act are allowed in exchange for rigorous and comprehensive state-developed education plans.

Loss of the waiver would place restrictions on 20 percent of the nearly $500 million in federal funds that flow into local school districts each year.