<P> The mathematicians Edward Frenkel and Hung - Hsi Wu wrote in 2013 that the mathematical education in the United States is in "deep crisis" caused by the way math is currently taught in schools . Both agree that math textbooks, which are widely adopted across the states, already create "mediocre de facto national standards". The texts, they say, "are often incomprehensible and irrelevant". The Common Core State Standards address these issues and "level the playing field" for students . They point out that adoption of the Common Core State Standards and how best to test students are two separate issues . </P> <P> In 2012, Tom Loveless of the Brookings Institution called into question whether the standards will have any effect, and said that they "have done little to equalize academic achievement within states". In response to the standards, the libertarian Cato Institute claimed that "it is not the least bit paranoid to say the federal government wants a national curriculum ." Some conservatives have assailed the program as a federal "top - down" takeover of state and local education systems . South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley said her state should not "relinquish control of education to the federal government, neither should we cede it to the consensus of other states ." </P> <P> Educational analysts from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute determined that the Common Core standards, "are clearly superior to those currently in use in 39 states in math and 37 states in English . For 33 states, the Common Core is superior in both math and reading ." According to the National Education Association, the Common Core State Standards are supported by 76% of its teacher members . </P> <P> A spokesman from ExxonMobil said of Common Core: "It sets very important milestones and standards for educational achievement while at the same time providing those most invested in the outcome--local teachers and administrators--with the flexibility they need to best achieve those results". </P>

Who came up with the common core standards