BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) _ A Burleigh County judge is slated to hear arguments Monday from North Dakota opponents of the Common Core education standards.

Tioga Republican Rep. Bob Skarphol and three other plaintiffs want to bar the state from paying membership fees to an organization that’s writing tests for the federally backed standards.

Opponents last month sued Gov. Jack Dalrymple, state Superintendent Kirsten Baesler and other state officials alleging North Dakota entered into an illegal agreement when it joined the multistate Smarter Balanced Assessment consortium.

Opponents allege the consortium is an illegal interstate compact not approved by Congress.

Backers say it does not violate the compact clause because the U.S. Education Department supports the consortium.

The North Dakota lawsuit is similar to one that succeeded in Missouri in February but is on appeal.