Bill to repeal Ala. Common Core standards dies

The sponsor of a bill to repeal the state's use of Common Core education standards has decided to kill his own bill.

The chairman of the Senate Education Committee, Republican Dick Brewbaker of Montgomery, took the action Wednesday when it became clear his committee wouldn't remove the Common Core standards.

Republican Sen. Bill Holtzclaw of Madison offered a substitute bill that kept the standards.

Brewbaker moved to table it and lost by one vote. That's when Brewbaker moved to indefinitely postpone his own bill. He said Holtzclaw's substitute bill maintained the status quo.

State school Superintendent Tommy Bice, who Tuesday urged lawmakers not to remove the standards, said he was pleased the majority of the committee wanted to keep them.

“I am pleased that we can continue with our efforts so broadly embraced across the state and continue to build on our partnerships with post-secondary, higher education and business and industry," Bice said. "I also want to commit to those who continue to disagree with our direction and our standards that I remain willing to meet and discuss those concerns at any time and will take the lead and request the first meeting in the next few weeks.”

The governor has advocated their repeal for more than two years.

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