If there is one thing that most of Louisiana’s gubernatorial candidates have in common, it is their strong opposition to the Common Core State Standards.

The Common Core State Standards were adopted by the state in 2010, encompassing English language arts (ELA) and math. Full implementation of the standards did not come until this past school year, bypassing a transitional year that was originally planned.

Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle (R-Breaux Ridge) today came out against the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) supported initiative.

“It has lost the confidence of the people that have to make it work,” Angelle said.

According to Angelle, higher standards should be in place across the state, however, he says Common Core is not the answer.

Similar to a proposal by Vitter, Angelle said he would scrap the state standards and create a new set of high stakes standards with parent, teacher and business input and involvement.

Aside from Vitter, who came out against Common Core months ago, Angelle joins gubernatorial candidate Rep. John Bel Edwards (D-Amite), the lone Democrat in the race so far.

The only gubernatorial candidate for Common Core is Republican Lt. Jay Dardenne.

Common Core has been a major fight for Gov. Bobby Jindal, who once backed the state standards, but has since opposed them. Jindal has said that states were coerced into implementing the standards.