Demonstrators protest Common Core in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Dozens of demonstrators gathered in Salt Lake City to protest a set of uniform benchmarks for reading, writing and math that have been adopted by most states.

They chanted and held placards outside the State Office of Education on Friday in opposition to the Common Core standards for math and English that have been adopted in Utah.

Common Core opponents repeated their concerns inside during a meeting Friday of the State School Board.

The new standards replace a hodgepodge of educational goals that had varied greatly from state to state.

While proponents say the new standards will better prepare students, critics worry they’ll set a national curriculum for public schools rather than letting states decide what is best for their students.

Kory Holdaway of the Utah Education Association says questions raised Friday by opponents were essentially the same concerns that have been voiced since 2009.

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