Hutchinson Names Griffin To Chair Common Core Review

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Wednesday that Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin will chair a new council to review controversial Common Core standards.

Through an executive order, Hutchinson created the Governor’s Council on Common Core Review, a 16-member panel that he said would be comprised of educators, parents, business leaders, and students.

Hutchinson said the council will be open for applications and he encouraged the public to apply at www.governor.arkansas.gov.

“We are looking for Arkansans who are committed to high standards in education and who have experience with Common Core,” Hutchinson said.

Calling it an “issue of competitiveness,” Griffin, who has two young children in the Little Rock Public School system, said he wanted to “set a tone of listening” as leader of the Common Core council.

“I am honored that Gov. Hutchinson has chosen me to lead his Council on Common Core Review and that he has given me the opportunity to serve. I have a deep and abiding passion for education, not only as an elected official, but as an Arkansan and the father of two young children,” Griffin said.

Hutchinson said he wants the council to provide a list of initial recommendations by mid-year and a longer list of recommendations by the fall.