JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri Senate approved a measure Thursday that would require the State Board of Education to develop and recommend new academic performance standards in place of the federal Common Core standards.

Supporters of Common Core say it provides national standards for states upon which to base their schools’ curricula. During the Senate’s lengthy debate Tuesday evening, Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis City, questioned the Republican Party’s opposition to the measure.

“How did we get here in terms of the disconnect within the Republican Party, where you have so many Republicans running away from Common Core when they were the ones that initiated it, supported it?” she asked.

Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, said he has always had issues with the Common Core standards because they were implemented by the governor with little outside input.

“There was no involvement of the Legislature. There was no involvement outside that elitist perspective, and to me that is unprecedented,” Emery said.

The measure was approved with an emergency clause, meaning it would take effect immediately following passage.

The Senate’s amended version of the measure now will return to the House for approval.