The North Carolina House of Representatives recently passed a bill, exercising North Carolina’s constitutional authority over academic standards in the state.

Representative Michael Speciale joined colleagues in the House to pass legislation, replacing Common Core with an age-level and developmentally appropriate curriculum, according to a press release from Speciale’s office. Speciale represents District 3, which covers Beaufort, Craven and Pamlico counties.

“My colleagues and I have spent countless hours investigating the Common Core State Standards and have worked hard to get this bill passed,” Speciale said in the release. “We look forward to implementation of a uniquely North Carolina set of standards to ensure that NC students are getting the best education available. We are proud of this effort.”

An appointed 11-member advisory board, in cooperation with the State Board of Education, will bring teachers, principals, parents and subject matter experts to develop standards that will replace Common Core curriculum, according to the press release. The new statewide academic standards are projected to be among the highest in the nation, enabling North Carolina students to succeed academically and professionally.

The bill is a compromise between similar House and Senate versions of the bill, according to the release. The final bill allows the board to consider keeping parts of Common Core if they believe it serves the best educational interest of North Carolina students. Current standards will remain in place until new standards are completed.

“This bill allows them (board) to keep certain things if they feel it’s best for the program,” Speciale said. “It sets up a committee to look at the education program and replaces parts that need to be replaced.”

North Carolina schools began implementing Common Core in 2010 as part of a national movement. However, statewide efforts to repeal it followed when parents and educators found its requirements and teaching methods to be confusing and often age-inappropriate, according to the release.

“One thing we didn’t want to do is just end the program right now because it would create the same type of chaos that happened in the first place (with Common Core),” Speciale said. “As this new team comes up with the curriculum, it will be implemented.”

Beaufort County Schools Superintendent Dr. Don Phipps said based on the new curriculum rollout, the school board will examine the new standards and provide training in the areas impacted. The school system will also compare the new and old curriculums to find specific areas in which differences exist as well as where content is unchanged.

“Whatever is proposed and presented will be thoroughly examined and I trust that many different individuals will have the opportunity to weigh in and offer suggestions,” Phipps said. “I expect there will be many elements of Common Core that remain, but the changes will be significant.

Phipps said the new rollout should not be rushed and resources should be in place for students and teachers prior to it being implemented. In the Beaufort County School system, pacing guides, resource materials, local formative and benchmark assessments, professional development and many other items for teachers, student and parents are developed. Those items will have to be changed to match the new curriculum, in the content areas affected, Phipps said.

“I can’t imagine that with all the attention Common Core has received, any alternative curriculum will be released without these important aspects addressed,” Phipps said. “I also trust that the elected officials who will be addressing this issue will allow professional educators, parents, students and community members politicians to be adequately involved so that the finished product is good for all students and not simply a political product. We will keep our board up to date on changes and will continue to work diligently to ensure that our staff members and students are prepared with the state approved curriculum.”

The release said the measure now goes to North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory for final approval.