JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri Senate voted to eliminate Common Core Standards in Missouri over three years, sending the bill to Gov. Jay Nixon.

The legislation would establish two 14-member committees to write the state’s education standards in place of Common Core. Under the bill, local school districts would also be able to write their own standards to complement the state’s standards.

Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, is chair of the Senate Education Committee and praised the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, for getting the bill passed.

“You took a very, very emotional issue one that people are very passionate about on both sides and worked together to come up with a good compromise.” he said.

Legislative critics have attacked the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for adopting Common Core standards without consulting with the legislature or local education officials.