Cruz tells anti-tax group 'No' to Common Core in schools

PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) - Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas told an influential anti-tax group Friday that he opposes Common Core education standards, a day after potential GOP presidential rival Jeb Bush endorsed the program.

Cruz described Common Core as "national standards being dictated from Washington" during an appearance at the Club for Growth's annual winter meeting.

"There is no remedy when they are dictating what's being taught to your kids," said Cruz, a first-term senator weighing a 2016 presidential campaign.

His comments stood in stark contrast to those from Bush, who told the same group that the education goals would help more students be prepared for college or better jobs.

Common Core standards are a set of voluntary goals in math, reading and language arts created by a bipartisan group of governors and adopted by more than 40 states. They became a polarizing issue within Republican circles after the Obama administration endorsed them.

Earlier Friday, Bush rejected the idea that Common Core standards were tantamount to a federal takeover of education. Speaking at a meeting of conservative activists in suburban Washington, the former Florida governor argued that Congress should pass legislation that states that "the federal government has no role in the creation of standards directly or indirectly."

Cruz and Bush are among six potential GOP presidential candidates speaking to the Club for Growth's winter meeting, which concludes Saturday. The others are Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.