Karen Braun is a writer and conference speaker on issues related education and family life. Her work has appeared in the American Thinker, Crosswalk, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, WatchDog Wire, and various other websites and magazines. She has also appeared on TV and radio venues. Along with blogging, Karen also enjoys homeschooling, running marathons, and spending time with her husband, their six children, and two grand children. For more information please contact Karen at spunkyhomeschool at gmail dot com
Melanie Kurdy’s attended the Senate hearing on the STEM Diploma and offers this update. An unfortunate turn of events in Michigan. Our “conservative legislators” including John Proos, Phil Pavlov, Amanda Price and Holly Hughes are sponsoring bills we have been warning people about for quite a while. SB 169, SB 170, HB 4284 and HB […]
The Michigan Senate Education Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing this Tuesday on the STEM credentialed diploma (SB 169 and SB 170). If passed, the bills introduced by Senator Proos and Representative Price would make Michigan the first state in the country to create a STEM certification for high school diplomas. From Mlive, “Proos’ […]
The evidence is clearly mounting against M-STEP (SBAC repackaged). Parents are ready to opt-out. It is very encouraging to see parents taking positive action on behalf of their children. However, we recognize that opting out can be confusing and intimidating. Let’s face it, nobody likes being called into the principal’s office and few go there […]
In a previous post I asked, “Is the MDE cheating on M-STEP?” after learning that the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) recklessly spent $4.9 million on SBAC membership fees in order to obtain the questions for the “new” M-STEP. Not only is the MDE purchase against the current budget signed last year which mandated a […]
We’ve been receiving reports from parents who–after notifying their school that their child is opting-out of the M-STEP assessment–have been told by school officials that opting out is “not a viable option.” This is FALSE. Parents CAN and MUST opt out their student out of M-STEP. The rumor that opting out is not viable appears […]
Before Michigan students sit down before their computers to take the “new” M-STEP assessment, officials at the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) must sit down before state lawmakers and answer a few challenging questions of their own. The Michigan budget signed last year was fairly clear that there would be no funding for a transition […]
Apparently, bullying isn’t just a problem with students anymore. Detroit third graders brought a letter home that threatened the students with a suspension if their parents do not attend an MSTEP assessment meeting. From WDIV News, DETROIT – Kids from Coleman A. Young Elementary in Detroit were sent home with a letter scolding parents for […]
Please make this call TODAY from 9-5 so you can talk to a person US House of Reps 202-224-3121 ask for John Boehner or your Representative. Tell them…. Please VOTE NO on HR 5 “Student Success Act to Reauthorize No Child Left Behind Please REPEAL No Child Left Behind More information on this at […]
Opting out and refusing the assessments is gaining momentum as the best way to protect your children’s privacy and to stop common core. Stop Common Core in Michigan has made two opt out forms available to notify your child’s school that you do not want your students participating in assessments. Thomas Moore Law Center has provided […]
A new MIRS report alleges that key Republican leaders advised Gov. Snyder and State Superintendent Flanagan to keep Common Core below the radar in the fall of 2013 until a key vote on a resolution was passed to allow implementation to continue. In the days before the House gave final approval to a resolution on […]