NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Senate Education Committee is holding hearings today and Friday to discuss a new set of benchmarks for math and reading.
Supporters of the common core standards say they provide students with critical thinking, problem solving and strong writing skills they need to help prepare them for global competition.
So far, 45 states and the District of Columbia have adopted the standards.
Mitchell Johnson is interim executive director of the Tennessee Education Association, the state's largest teachers' union. He says most teachers are in favor of tougher standards that "promote higher thinking skills," but there's concern they're not being given enough time to adjust to the changes.
He suggests delaying implementation of the new standards for at least a year.