[originaltext] Americans have never had national education standards.(32)Goa

Americans have never had national education standards.(32)Goals for what public schools should teach are set by state and local school boards. Their members are often elected. But some Americans say the lack of national standards is wrong in a competitive global economy. The former President and Congress expanded federal intervention.(33)His education law, still in effect, required states to show yearly progress in student learning as measured by the states’ own tests. Now. the present administration supports what are known as the Common Core State Standards. These were developed in a year-long process led by state governors and chief state school officers. Texas and Alaska were the only states not to take part. The standards are in two subject areas. English-language arts and mathematics. They establish goals for each year from kindergarten through grade twelve.(34)The aim is for students to finish high school fully prepared for college and careers. The developers considered standards in other countries, along with almost 100 000 public comments. The final standards were released on June 2. A new report says about half the states have approved them already. The Thomas B. Fordham Institute, an education group in Washington, says the standards are clearer and stronger than those used in 3/4 of the states.(35)But the comparison also found that existing English standards are "clearly stronger" in California, Indiana and the District of Columbia.
32. Who set the teaching goals for public schools in America?
33. What can we learn about the former President’s education law?
34. What is the purpose of Common Core State Standards?
35. What can be inferred about the new education standards?