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
Governor Snyder and the Michigan Department of Education obsession with high-stakes testing has reached a new low with the Kindergarten Entry Assessment (KEA). From the MDE website, Kindergarten Entry Assessment (KEA) Michigan’s Kindergarten Entry Assessment (KEA) is an authentic observational system (provided by Teaching Strategies GOLD) for assessing children in the first 45 days of […]
Brian Polet resigned as as board president and from the board of directors of Eagle Crest Charter Academy. Below is his stinging resignation letter. Please read and share this letter. Dear Eagle Crest Charter Academy, National Heritage Academies, and Central Michigan University, Effective June 30, 2014, I officially resign as board president and from the […]
As the election season begins many have asked how the candidates and incumbents stand on Common Core. There is high interest in their position and many believe Common Core will be the “litmus test” issue for the 2014 elections. To assist readers and concerned voters, we will maintain a running list for various offices and […]
Governor Rick Snyder is at the Mackinac Policy Conference (#MPC14) this week. MiVote interviewed Governor Snyder today and asked him about the bills moving testing from the Michigan Department of Education to Treasury. His response, “I didn’t call for that.” Detroit Free Press Education reporter, Lori Higgins tweeted the responses from Gov. Snyder. “I […]
Oklahoma Gov. Fallin is head of the National Governor’s Association and a a staunch supporter of Common Core. Parents and teachers in OK have been able to push back and get a bill, HB 3339 through the legislature which would repeal Common Core. Gov. Fallin has until June 7 to sign the bill or it […]
WZZM News filed a Special Report: Common Core 101. Reporter Sarah Sell talked with Melanie Kurdys, Sarah Perks, and featured our website, Stop Common Core in Michigan, in their report. The video is available below or if you are receiving this post via email at this link: WZZM: Common Core 101 ACTION ITEM: Michigan is […]
Parents and teachers: It’s time WE teach Lansing a lesson…we’re in charge of our children’s future. Please read this post and contact your legislators TODAY! Yesterday, I encouraged state lawmakers to withdraw HB 5581 and SB 0945 until we knew what assessment Governor Snyder supports. We still don’t know. Instead, lawmakers in both the the […]
Today the Michigan House and Senate are debating HB 5581 and SB 0945, a bill introduced by Rep. Genetski to transfer the authority for assessments from the Michigan Department of Education to treasury under Governor Snyder. The reason? The MDE wants Smarter Balanced and many state lawmakers do not. The “solution” provided in HB 5581 […]
There’s a brawl brewing in Lansing over which test will replace MEAP. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) wants the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC). Business Leaders and the Chamber of Commerce want SBAC. Lawmakers in the legislature are divided. Some want SBAC but others are concerned about cost and the loss of control if we […]
Today the House passed HB 5223 and 5224 a package of bills that tie teacher evaluations to student growth. This tweet from StudentsFirstMI says it all, Our StudentsFirst members got to thank Rep. Margaret O’Brien for her work on teacher evaluations. #MiLeg #edchat pic.twitter.com/fFmRtreK2o — StudentsFirst MI (@StudentsFirstMI) May 14, 2014 Teacher evaluations tied to […]