• Even before the legislative session began, South Dakotans were talking about Common Core. Last year, after a few media outlets released some unsettling reports, groups across the state gathered to discuss the new standards and learn more.
• I can understand why people may be inclined to be wary of the standards. A general opposition to federal interference in education and a strong belief in local control of our schools have led many to question Common Core. Given the past few decades of federal intrusion into education and the growth of the federal government, an inclination toward suspicion is perfectly reasonable. 
• But that's not what's happening here.
• The Common Core State Standards were not written by the federal government and are not required by the federal government. South Dakota receives no federal funds that were contingent on adopting the Common Core standards. The standards are the product of a state-led effort by governors and chief education leaders to provide a clear and rigorous set of academic standards. 
• The standards, adopted by South Dakota in 2010, lay out expectations in math and English only. They are broad benchmarks that students should be meeting at each grade level. The standards are not a curriculum and do not require schools to

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