NASHVILLE (AP) - Tennessee lawmakers are turning to the federal government for help with a task that might seem self-contradictory - keeping the federal government at bay.
In one of several efforts to push back against what they see as federal overreach, Republican state lawmakers are pushing a resolution asking Congress, with its new Republican majority in the Senate as well as the House, to help put the brakes on Common Core education standards.
"Basically, it sends a message from the state of Tennessee that we do not want the dictation from the feds down to us," said state Sen. Bill Ketron, a Murfreesboro Republican and co-sponsor of the measure. "It urges them to pass a bill that gives that authority back to the states."
The resolution urges Congress in part to "end the decades of federal intrusion in state and local education policy decisions, and eliminate burdensome federal education mandates on states and local school systems. "
Ketron acknowledged the resolution takes aim at higher English and math standards, which became a hot button issue during the last legislative session and continue to be this year. Even before lawmakers convened earlier this month, a measure was filed in November to repeal Tennessee's Common Core standards.
The standards, intended to provide students with the critical thinking, problem solving and writing skills needed for college and the workforce, have been phased into classrooms in Tennessee for the past three years. They have encountered growing resistance locally and nationally from conservatives and tea party supporters who say the federal government is attempting to take over local education.
Supporters point out that the new benchmarks were developed not by the feds but by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, though the Obama administration has embraced them and linked them to education funding.
C ommon Core opponents in Tennessee want to repeal the current standards and replace them with ones developed at the state level.
"It's an ideological thing," said Vanderbilt University political science professor Bruce Oppenheimer. "They're fighting more the label than the concept."
Proposals to do away with the standards failed during last year's Tennessee legislative session, but legislation was approved to delay the testing component of the state's standards.
Many of those opposed to Common Core acknowledge more rigorous classroom courses are paying off, especially in Tennessee, which leads the nation in student academic improvement. They just want the standards to be developed in Tennessee.
"Even if they're similar, that'll be OK," said state House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga. "We just need to review all of them and make sure they fit in with what Tennesseans want."
Last week, Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Dolores G resham made headlines when she told The Associated Press she didn't have a problem with the current standards after talking with educators who said they're benefiting students.
But the Somerville Republican, who proposed the repeal legislation in November, clarified her statement the following day, saying she's committed to higher academic standards but wants them to be created in Tennessee.
Gresham, a co-sponsor of the resolution, reiterated her commitment to higher standards in a statement to the AP this week, and said education reform is needed to make Tennessee students competitive.
"At the same time, I believe these high standards should be state-specific, not those which are pushed down upon us from Washington," Gresham said.
The Common Core standards, which have been adopted by most of the states, were scrapped last year in Indiana and Oklahoma. Governors in North Carolina, South Carolina and Missouri have signed legislation to reconsider the st andards, which are still being used in those states.