When Did I Volunteer for Common Core?

Today I received an email promoting the benefits of Common Core State Standards from an organization called Stand For Children based in Portland. A section of the email's graphic defines Common Core as a "Voluntary state-led initiative". 

So how, exactly, is Common Core voluntary?

Do you remember voting for Common Core? I don't. And I don't remember volunteering to teach it, or opting my children into a statewide implementation of these standards. This isn't a statement for or against the standards themselves, only the notion that the public was given some kind of choice as to whether to adopt them or not. 

I certainly don't remember having that choice.