Missouri House committee adopts bill to block school standards

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A Missouri House committee has advanced legislation that would block the state from implementing new education standards.

The measure endorsed Wednesday would prevent schools from using the Common Core Standards, unless the Legislature passes a bill to adopt them. The Missouri State Board of Education voted to adopt the standards in 2010.

Sponsoring Republican Rep. Kurt Bahr says the new benchmarks for reading, writing and math take important teaching decisions away from local school boards. The bill's opponents say the new education guidelines help students prepare for college.

Missouri students are scheduled to take Common Core-aligned tests this fall. Many other states have also adopted the standards.

The measure now heads to the House Rules Committee.