Most states, including Florida, are moving toward new education standards known as Common Core.

 Former Gov. Jeb Bush is promoting the new standards as a means of getting American students on par with their international peers. But, a growing chorus of conservatives sees this as a federal government takeover of education. 

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio has joined the naysayers.

Rubio says Common Core began for the right reasons – to boost academic standards. He told the Tampa Bay Times that - despite the good intentions - the standards are increasingly being used by the Obama Administration to coerce states into following a national curriculum.Rubio has the support of Tea Party activists like Patricia Sullivan, who led a rally against Common Core in Tallahassee.

“On this particular issue, it has been like a rhino charging through the Capitol, and we haven’t had a lot of opportunity to have a discussion”, Sullivan said.

Jeb Bush isn't giving up, in spite of the backlash from groups that normally side with him politically, like the Republican National Committee.

Bush addressed the debate at a recent policy conference in Michigan.

"The Common Core State Standards are clear and straight forward. They will allow for more innovation in the classroom; less regulation. They’ll equip students to compete with their peers across the globe", Bush promised. "Do not pull back. Please do not pull back from high lofty standards.”

There are questions about how Florida students will be tested under Common Core, but the state is still scheduled to begin fully implementing the new standards in the fall of 2014.