RALEIGH - Educators are taking exception to the argument that Common Core represents a set of federal standards that are being pushed on the states. Forty six states including North Carolina have adopted their own curriculum.

Dennis Van Roekel, the president of the National Education Association, says the standards were developed by experienced teachers who chose what's best for their students.

"Both and teachers and higher-up professionals have had a hand in developing them. So they aren't developed by someone who has never been in a classroom, it's people who educate students every day."

Van Roekel says the standards will make North Carolina competitive in the 21st century with countries that lead the world in education.