‘I told you I would do something': Gov. DeSantis looks to end Common Core in Florida

CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Florida Gov. DeSantis announced plans Thursday to overhaul the standards taught in Florida schools and ditch the current system, which has roots in Common Core.

“This is going to be a process that is going to take the balance of this year and we will go to the Legislature next session and want to get that done,” DeSantis said during a press conference. “We don’t want to dillydally, but at the same time, do it right.”

DeSantis said a lot of parents complained to him while on the campaign trail about the current system.

TRENDING NOW:

• Man & ailing wife had 'death party,' used meth for days before she died, police say
• Brevard Zoo rhino incident: New report details extent of girl's injuries
• 'She's bleeding, miss': 911 calls made after children discovered mother's body released
• VIDEO: Police release video of fatal shooting in downtown Orlando

“I told you I was going to do something about this,” DeSantis said.

People attending the press conference started clapping before DeSantis could even finish the announcement.

He said parents were frustrated with all the testing and couldn't understand some of the math.

The standards are basically expectations of what students should learn and when.

The state’s system is called the Florida Standards, which is similar to Common Core.

Many states have adopted Common Core, but it also has its share of critics who feel the system was imposed by the feds.

DeSantis is now directing the education commissioner to come up with a new set of standards and overhaul the system.

“He's going to suggest innovative ways to streamline some of the testing and to make that so that it's something that's measuring success, but we're not just teaching to a test," DeSantis said.

The governor said parents and teachers would have a say in this process and he hopes to send proposed changes to the Legislature by next year.

Wendy Doromal, of the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association, an education union, said teachers are happy to hear that they will be consulted on developing new educational standards.

"What we see happening in classrooms today is just memorization and teaching to the test, which sucks the joy out of learning in the classroom," she said.

Parent Brooke Wojdyla said she will be pleased if the program is phased out.

"I just found that it made things much more convoluted, more confusing and, quite frankly, I think it made (my daughter) dislike math," she said. "(We need to) get (students) back to learning in the classroom and connecting with teachers and not just being good test takers."

Orange County Public Schools declined to comment on the move, saying that district officials wish to see the executive order in writing first.

DOWNLOAD: Free WFTV News & Weather Apps

Not near a TV? Click here to watch WFTV newscasts live

Watch Live: Doppler 9 HD 

Cox Media Group