Iowa had implemented much of the Common Core State Standards into its "Iowa Core" education standards, working with the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium on a single testing program to measure students' progress.
The testing consortium has been one of the key organizations in helping states fully implement Common Core.
But on Tuesday, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad's office announced that his state is withdrawing from the consortium, the Associated Press reported.
Common Core was developed by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers and initially adopted by 44 states and the District of Columbia. Iowa now joins Indiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and South Carolina in exiting the standards.
Because the Obama administration's Education Department tied "Race to the Top" grants with adopting the standards, many conservatives argue it essentially amounts to a national curriculum. Conservatives have found an unusual ally in many states with teachers unions, who also oppose the standards.
Branstad said a state task force is examining the needs for Iowa testing and will have recommendations ready in January 2015, the AP reported. Because of this work, Branstad said, he won't continue in the consortium.
Go Iowa!!!