Utah signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in May 2009 which was included as Appendix 8 of our Race to the Top grant application. To be clear, this is an agreement between the sovereign state of Utah, and two private, non-governmental organizations (NGO’s), the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), and the National Governor’s Association (NGA).

Here are some quotes from the document, and the entire document is embedded below if you want to read it. Thanks to Morgan Olsen for providing these quotes, comments, and the document.

“CCSSO and the NGA Center will convene, Achieve, ACT, and the College Board in an open, inclusive, and efficient process to develop K-12 standards that are grounded in empirical research and draw on best practices in standards development.”

Where’s that research again?

“The parties support a state-led effort and not a federal effort to develop a common core of state standards; there is, however, an appropriate federal role in supporting this state-led effort…”

Not constitutionally there isn’t. Do they only not su