I was very surprised to see that the State Board of Education has hired Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McRel) to compare Nebraska's standards to the latest fad in education, the Common Core State Standards.

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Are you aware that McRel's business products include helping states implement Common Core? For a price, of course. So the board has hired a company that makes money implementing Common Core to tell them if Nebraska should implement Common Core. I have no doubt what McRel's conclusion will be after they complete their "study." Do you?

It's like hiring a Honda salesman to do a study on whether I should buy a Honda or a Toyota. What do you think his recommendation would be?

I urge you to put a stop to this extraordinary conflict of interest and waste of taxpayer dollars.

By Brenda Vosik, Omaha

Editor’s Note: Nebraska is one of five states that have not adopted the federal common core standards for what should be taught through 12th grade classrooms.

Critics believe adopting the standards will amount to forfeiting education decisions to Washington.

In a compromise move, the Nebraska Board of Education recently hired the Mid-continent firm to study the situation.

Molly O'Holleran of North Platte represents west central Nebraska on the state board.