Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s campaign to destroy Common Core education standards suffered another significant blow Wednesday, when a federal judge ruled against him in his ongoing lawsuit against the federal government.
For August 2014, Jindal has pursued a lawsuit against the Obama administration, claiming the federal government illegally coerced states into adopting Common Core by manipulating federal grant money, and has used illegal pressure since them to keep states in line. Jindal also claims the math and science standards constitute a national school curriculum, in violation of existing federal law.
But Judge Shelly Dick says there’s no merit to Jindal’s claims, saying he hasn’t done anything to prove the state would be penalized by the federal government if it ditches Common Core. The state is free to do so at any time, Dick says, and its legislature simply hasn’t done so. Similarly, Dick ruled that Common Core’s standards do not amount to a curriculum, and therefore don’t violate the law.
The ruling wasn’t particularly unexpected. Jindal’s lawsuits have received a cool reception from legal experts, and last month Dick refused Jindal’s request for a preliminary injunction, indicating that his case was unlikely to succeed. In fact, Jindal attorney Jimmy Faircloth requested that it be issued early without even holding a trial so that Jindal would be free to immediately proceed to the appeals stage, where Jindal hopes he may find a friendlier reception. (RELATED: Jindal Common Core Lawsuit Takes Major Blow)
If the federal court of appeals also rejects Jindal’s lawsuit, it could proceed to the Supreme Court, which may be Jindal’s plan all along.
Jindal was a strong supporter of Common Core back in 2010, and pushed for the state to adopt it, saying it would increase standards for students. But last year, he joined several other Republicans in denouncing it, even comparing it to the policies of the Soviet Union. He urged the state legislature to repeal and replace Common Core, but when they declined to do so, he tried to unilaterally take it out with a series of executive orders. But that approach has failed as well, as the Republican-dominated state school board has stood firm behind the standards. After that setback, Jindal turned to the courts, filing his federal suit and also joining one at the state level.
Jindal’s critics, including many Louisiana Republicans, say he has flipped on the issue in an effort to bolster his presidential campaign. Whether or not the strategy is helping Jindal’s campaign, it’s put at least a small dent in taxpayer’s pockets: His lawsuits thus far have cost the state over $830,000. (RELATED: Jindal’s Common Core Crusade: Principle, Or Opportunism?)
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