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Common Core Debated

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) _ Maine lawmakers are getting conflicting views as they once again consider a proposal to drop the five-year-old Common Core math and English standards.

    Maine's 2015 Teacher of the Year, the head of the Maine State Board of Education and representatives from the Maine State Chamber of Commerce all support the standards. But critics say the standards are confusing and represent federal meddling in state education.

    Several states have rejected or changed the standards. 

   The Education Committee held a hearing last week on the proposal to drop the standards and delay statewide testing for a year while it switches to a new test. 

    A similar proposal failed last year in the Legislature. Acting Education Commissioner Bill Beardsley said the department was neither for nor against the bill.