Lessons for Reformers: Bobby Jindal Edition

No one should be shocked by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s move today to issue an executive order ending the state’s implementation of Common Core reading and math standards. For the past few months, the Republican presidential aspirant has had little success cajoling his colleagues in the state legislature to abandon the standards, and has been strongly opposed in his efforts by his own education czar, John White (who is still championing implementation). So for Jindal, a lame-duck governor who faces long odds in his presidential bid, signing the executive order to stop Common Core implementation is just a last desperate effort to bolster support for his presidential bid at the expense of the futures of Bayou State kids deserving of college-preparatory curricula.