According to a new study published by the Pioneer Institute, the Common Core State Standards lack proper validation. A press release from the Pioneer Institute states that, “Five of the 29 members of the Common Core Validation Committee refused to sign a report attesting that the standards are research-based, rigorous and internationally benchmarked. The report was […]
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Positive news in Michigan!
As most of you know, House Concurrent Resolution, HCR 0011, approved Common Core as the standards for Michigan math & English, last fall. HCR 0011 alllowed the implementation to move forward but the resolution also provided flexibility to local districts to deviate from the standards. However, the hammer behind the standards is the assessment, which […]
After holding joint committee hearings earlier this year to review the assessments to be used with Common Core, it appears the House may not have the votes to continue funding the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC). Here’s key excerpts from MIRS News, “The language, which the committee inserted in an education omnibus budget bill today, would […]
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Fordham outrage with opting-out
It appears the Fordham Foundation is getting a bit frustrated with the rising opposition to the Common Core. In a recent article Chester Finn, Jr. went so far as to ask if “opting out” of testing is “acceptable” and speculated that it is “probably illegal.” “The opt-out-of-state-testing movement has notched more wins lately. “Thousands,” we […]
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Are teachers being silenced?
Susan Kimball, a kindergarten teacher, testified in a Missouri hearing against Common Core. With a shaky voice and tears in her eyes Kimball described how she was being bullied by her administrators not to say anything negative. Via Missouri Education Watchdog: “I have been strongly discouraged from saying anything negative about Common Core by my […]
Nothing about Common Core infuriates parents more than how politicians and pundits dehumanize our children with their rhetoric. Human capital, worker pipeline, and talent pool are frequently used phrases to justify reforms and increased spending so that the state or business receives a maximum “return on their investment.” It’s all about economic success and […]
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Controlling the Common Core
They told us if we adopted the Common Core we were not going to lose control of the classroom or curriculum. They lied. Copyrights, Assessments, and Czars all mean more centralized control. Once local control is lost it will never be regained. Teachers and parents must take a stand now and opt out or education […]
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What about Common Core and College?
Minding the Campus has an excellent analysis of the academic impact of Common Core on higher education written by Peter Wood. Wood is president of the National Association of Scholars. Here’s an excerpt, What the Common Core will do to college. “The Common Core’s standards amount to an assault on the college curriculum. That’s because […]
Momentum is building against the Common Core and that has some people very nervous and worried, especially in an election year. Via Politico, Tea party activists have been waging war for months against the Common Core academic standards. Now, in a coordinated show of muscle, Big Business is fighting back — and notching wins. […]
Eight grade students attending Novi Middle school were asked to write an essay on whether they would rather be a slave or a factory worker. The majority chose a slave. 7 Action News talked to Kaya James, a student at the school. Kaya told 7 Action News her teacher asked the class a question […]