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Alabama abolishes Common Core agreement, but what does it accomplish?

Via WVTM-TV News:   “The state of Alabama has opted out of participating in the Common Core English and mathematics standards.” Last month, State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tommy Bice proposed rescinding the 2009 Memorandum of Agreement with the National governor’s Association and the Council for Chief State School Officers, “in an effort to reassure the […]

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Assessments Information Commnetary Common Core Problems Legislative Updates Uncategorized

Where’s the transparency?

Trying to piece together the events in Lansing today is not easy but the net result seems to be clear, the implementation of Common Core will go forward but questions about the assessments and SBAC remain. Last week, the Senate cowardly gaveled through resolution S-4 as a substitute resolution to HCR-11 previously passed by the […]

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Rethinking the Common Core

Last week, the Michigan Senate hastily gaveled through, S-4, a substitute resolution designed to restart the implementation of the Common Core.  They did so by voice vote without any public hearings on the resolution and no record of how members voted.   The senate decision to push the resolution through is likely because parents and […]

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Senate Roll Call Please!

Yesterday by a voice vote, the Michigan Senate passed a substitute resolution on Common Core.  A voice vote means that no record of how each Senator voted was recorded. According to a report from MLive, “Richardville also said a roll call vote was not taken on the issue because “there didn’t seem to be a […]

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Senate Takes Action with Voice Vote

Yesterday, the Senate gaveled through S-4,  their substitute version of the Common Core resolution by voice vote.   MIRS reports, “When the issue was called on for a vote, a few senators audibly grumbled “yes,” a few senators audibly grumbled “no” and Speaker Pro Tem Tonya SCHUITMAKER (R-Lawton) gaveled the resolution through. No role call vote […]

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Senate passes Common Core resolution (w/Updates)

Update:  Via MLIve  Gov. Rick Snyder issued the following statement Thursday afternoon: Michigan students will be better prepared to compete for jobs in our state and beyond as our partners in the Legislature took another key step to support the Common Core Standards. “There is strong, bipartisan backing for the Common Core, an effort developed […]

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Senate “huddles” with MDE

There have been no public hearings on Common Core in the Senate since the joint committee hearing held on October 2.    Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville is controlling the Common Core debate and listening to only one side of the argument.  MIRS reports that key senators met with state Superintendent Mike Flanagan  “behind closed doors […]

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Friday Senate Update

Last June, state lawmakers passed a budget which included language that halted Common Core and Smarter Balanced Assessments pending an affirmative action of the legislature.  The new budget year begins October 1.    The House held four public hearings over the summer to help House members learn more about the issue.   Hoping to meet […]

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Assessments Information Common Core ELA Standards Common Core Problems

Typing to the Test

In our technology age, learning to type is an important skill.  But is it necessary to learn that skill to a young child in first or second grade?  Thanks to Common Core and the Smarter Balanced Computer Assessments, the answer appears to be “yes.”   The Washington Post reports that students in kindergarten are now learning […]

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Common Core ELA Standards Common Core Problems

MSU Professor Questions CCSS for Writing

In a research paper released today , MSU Professor Gary Troia questions the “effectiveness of the Common Core State Standards in teaching writing.”  I have not read the actual report but according to reporter Brian Smith at MLIVE, “Research published Friday by the National Association of School Psychologists from a Michigan State University education professor […]