As reported by the Washington Post, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded the development of what became known as the Common Core State Standards and built political support for the standards across the country. As described,

The Gates Foundation spread money across the political spectrum, to entities including the big teachers unions, the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association, and business organizations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — groups that have clashed in the past but became vocal backers of the standards.

Money flowed to policy groups on the right and left, funding research by scholars of varying political persuasions who promoted the idea of common standards. Liberals at the Center for American Progress and conservatives affiliated with the American Legislative Exchange Council who routinely disagree on nearly every issue accepted Gates money and found common ground on the Common Core.

For more information, see the full story from the Post.

The Common Core standards will be the topic of the education session at this Summer’s MACo Conference.  For more information, and the register see the MACo website.