CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — Newly appointed West Virginia House Education Committee Chairman Delegate Paul Espinosa (R-Jefferson) says he believes the new College and Career Readiness academic standards, adopted by the state Board of Education last month, should be repealed.
“While certainly there have been some positive changes to the standards under taken by the board, I think there’s concern that really those changes haven’t gone far enough,” Espinosa said on Monday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
The new standards replace the controversial Common Core/Next Generation standards for English, language arts and mathematics, but state lawmakers have said both are too similar.
“Unless we can really obtain some more significant changes to that and really go through a process that I think looks at the best standards that are available around the country and perhaps try to incorporate those, I think we will move forward with a repeal,” Espinosa said ahead of the upcoming Regular Legislative Session.
Espinosa, who was named Monday by House Speaker Tim Armstead, will take the place of Delegate Amanda Pasdon (R-Monongalia). She resigned from the position citing personal reasons.
Espinosa said that the appointment means he will not be seeking a seat in the State Senate.
“Whoever accepted this role really needed to make that commitment,” Espinosa said. “That is my plan, to seek re-election to the House seat.”
He announced last year he would be seeking the seat being vacated by State Senator Herb Snyder (D-Jefferson) in the 16th District.
Espinosa said when he made that decision; he wanted to do what was best for his constituents.
“After a lot of consideration I concluded that the opportunity to help insure the pursuit of an education reform agenda was an opportunity I really needed to accept,” he said.
He had been heading towards a primary battle with fellow Republican Patricia Rucker in the 16th Senatorial District.
No other Republicans have filed to run at this time.
Delegate Stephen Skinner (D-Jefferson) and Jefferson County resident David Manthos are both running for the seat on the Democratic ticket.