The Senate Education Committee voted to pass SB 169/170 STEM diploma bills out of committee on Tuesday. The House Education Committee is not scheduled to take up the companion bill at this time. Please continue to call and let your Senators and Representatives know you do NOT support SB 169 and SB 170 and HB 4284, HB 4285.
Of particular disappointment to me was the “YES” vote by my own Senator Colbeck (R) who sits on the Education Committee. The STEM diploma legislation erodes local control and does NOT protect homeschoolers from discrimination. These are two issues he has stated he is strongly in favor of protecting.
The very fact that Lansing is proposing a STEM endorsement ONLY obtained by going through the MDE makes it very clear that districts have lost some control Local districts teach the STEM track beginning in 7th grade using MDE (NGSS and CCSS) approved curricula. Local districts transmit names to the MDE. The MDE transmits the endorsement back to the district and to CEPI. The STEM diploma is NOT local control but MDE control!
SB 169 allows homeschoolers to go to the MDE to opt-in to obtain the STEM credential. However, the parent must send a “certification” that states the student has met “substantially the same” requirements. The language of this bill is subject to the interpretation of the MDE. What sort of “certification?” What does “substantially the same” mean? In the age of “accountability” does anyone really expect the MDE to honor a parent’s word? Remember, this is the same MDE that put SBAC into M-STEP despite the 2014 budget. This is the same MDE that took bake sales way from local schools until Senator Colbeck passed a bill restoring local decision-making power. This is the same MDE that is trying to tell parents they can’t opt out of M-STEP when they actually can. Sorry, but when you give the MDE an inch they take a mile unless someone stops them.
The word “transmit” is also an interesting word choice. The endorsement for public school students will likely be through Parchment, an electronic transcript generator. Parchment is the ONLY vendor currently approved to transmit credentials for schools in nearly a dozen states. A paper endorsement transmitted to the parent is meaningless in a P20 seamless system where data accessed by various stakeholders. Matthew Pittinsky, CEO of Parchment said,
“Students are now poised for greater success in their postsecondary and professional efforts through the electronic exchange of their learning credentials.”
The homeschooler with the credential in a paper file is not in the same position. The Data Quality Campaign makes it clear that paper in a box may contain valuable information but if it is not electronic and “it isn’t linked longitudinally, it isn’t connected to any other set of data about my child to complete the picture.” How the MDE plans on to “transmit” is a loophole that gives the homeschooler no advantage but potentially gives the MDE more control. We are not required to give the “bigger picture” but without it the endorsement is meaningless. Anyone who believes this language will protect homeschoolers from discrimination does not understand the P20 system or is complicit in helping to build it.
Of course, this is all said to be voluntary.. But where does a homeschooler who does not opt-in stand in relation to those who obtain the endorsement? They have NO standing; otherwise what is the point of a credential? SB 169 is bad policy and contains enough loopholes to become a noose around the homeschooler’s neck.
I have not been able to find out who wrote the language in SB 169. Sen Proos aide told me it was written by INCH, and Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). However, staff at HSLDA and INCH tell me it was written by Sen. Proos. Strange that no one wants to claim authorship for a bill that is supposed to help protect homeschoolers. Did anyone check to see if the MDE was “tweaking” SB 169 in a dark closet?
Stop Common Core in Michigan OPPOSES this legislation and ANY legislation that creates a career credential beginning in 7th grade. This is the first credential of six possible career credentials. Michigan is the first state but will NOT be the last.
Here are our recent posts on STEM and why we OPPOSE the STEM endorsement credential.
STEM and the Role of Education
STEM Legislative Update
STEM Diploma Debate Heats Up
Third Grade Reading
The House Education Commitee is scheduled to hear testimony Thursday on 3rd grade reading proficiency. Scheduled to present is The Foundation for Excellence in Education. The Foundation for Excellence in Education is Jeb Bush’s organization. Here’s what how the foundation describes what they do,
Founded by former Governor Jeb Bush in 2008, the Foundation for Excellence in Education’s (ExcelinEd) unique contribution is working with decision makers on developing and implementing reform policies. We are a hands-on, how-to organization that provides model legislation, rule-making expertise, implementation strategies, and public outreach.
Bush’s reform strategy is common core and more. Anytime he is involved in education, parents and educators can plan on losing more control and input. His “model” is to create a standardized centralized P20 system across the nation. Stop Common Core OPPOSES legislation on 3rd grade reading and we OPPOSE Jeb Bush meddling in Michigan education!
We will keep you udpdated on both the STEM and 3rd grade reading as the legislation progresses.