Through the Voices Empower content we tie together various historical events and policy changes in U.S. education to present an argument that centralized education reforms, including the federally mandated Common Core aligned College and Career Readiness Standards, aim to shift control away from states and local communities toward a globally-influenced model.

We connect figures like Marc Tucker, Hillary and Bill Clinton, Barrack Obama, the Bush family, Bill Gates, Linda Darling-Hammond, and many others’ policies with themes such as workforce development, data tracking, and equity-focused education.

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) began in 2009 as a state-led initiative with the aim to standardize education benchmarks across states to improve college and career readiness. Supporters argue that these standards ensure consistency in education across states and raise the bar for students to be competitive on a global scale. However, there are great concerns that the CCSS and related reforms erode state sovereignty in education by promoting a centralized, data-driven approach.

We believe that the US education system is shifting away from giving students a solid academic foundation to workforce development and compliance with global economic standards over local autonomy and individual educational goals.

The funding from prominent organizations such as the Gates Foundation, the involvement of federal and state governments in initiatives like Race to the Top, and the gradual shift towards digital resources (e.g., OER) have been points of contention. The actions reflect a concerted move towards a unified educational system that aligns with global agendas, including goals outlined by UNESCO and the OECD.

This fundamental transformation in the US education system dilutes local control, shift focus from traditional academics to behavioral outcomes, and potentially impose ideological perspectives. A child will grow up in America but will believe they merely live in America, they are a global citizen who must adhere to global governance.