State Court Sides with South Dakota in Common Core Case

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A state judge says South Dakota's adoption of the Common Core education standards isn't illegal.

The Argus Leader reports that Circuit Court Judge Mark Barnett ruled against two South Dakota parents who were part of the November lawsuit against the state.

Tony Venhuizen, chief of staff to Gov. Dennis Daugaard, says the governor is happy with the court's decision.

The Thomas More Law Center supported the lawsuit from two residents over South Dakota's membership in the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, which developed the standardized tests.

They argued the state's involvement with the consortium violated a constitutional provision since it didn't have Congressional approval. Barnett ruled the state did not violate state or federal laws.

Parents Amber Mauricio and Shelli Grinager can appeal the decision. An attorney for the plaintiffs wasn't immediately available for comment.