BESE Tweaks Regulations For Common Core Standards

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has tweaked its regulations governing the state's shift to tougher testing and educational standards.

BESE's decision Wednesday to make adjustments to its rules for use of the Common Core came a day after the board heard five hours of testimony from supporters and critics of the standards.

The board held firm to its support for Common Core, however, making only modest changes, which were approved in an 8-1 vote.

The changes spell out what state education leaders had already said was policy: that local school districts can choose their own instructional materials.

Added was a provision allowing parents of high school English students to opt their children out of reading materials deemed inappropriate.

BESE also tightened rules governing the use of student data.