Lonegan opposes federal Common Core education standards

 N.J. Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steve Lonegan discusses his opposition to the common core standards outside the New Jersey Education Department building in Trenton. (Phil Gregory/for NewsWorks)

N.J. Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steve Lonegan discusses his opposition to the common core standards outside the New Jersey Education Department building in Trenton. (Phil Gregory/for NewsWorks)

Republican candidate Steve Lonegan says if he wins next month’s special election for a U.S. Senate seat from New Jersey, he’ll lead the fight to reverse federal Common Core State Standards for schools.

“We need to teach every child separately so they can be challenged to reach their best possible potential, and no one-size-fits-all model will serve these children nor will it serve our nation,” he said during a campaign stop in Trenton.

The former mayor of Bogota in North Jersey said the Common Core standards will dumb down education and force teachers to focus on conforming to the national tests.

Forth-six states, including New Jersey, have adopted the standards that supporters say will help make students better prepared for college or a career.

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Lonegan faces Democratic candidate Cory Booker in the Oct. 16 special election.

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