What’s going on with SB 826?

Senator Colbeck, lead sponsor for SB 826, posted the following on his Facebook page,

As soon as the MI Legislature gets back from Summer break, we need a vote on SB 826 to repeal Common Core and replace it with the top-notch Pre-Common Core MA Standards.

We agree!  However, which version does Senator Colbeck want to see passed?  This post makes no reference to the proposed substitute that caused such a kerfuffle a few months ago.  Our position is firm.   We support SB 826 as it was introduced and voted out of the Senate Education committee.   We cannot and will NOT support a revised bill we have not read.

Michigan Campaign for Liberty obtained and released a copy of the substitute bill on their website in a post, “It’s the federal mandates, stupid.” Their analysis of the substitute confirms that language has been changed which does weaken the bill dramatically by inserting language such as “All manner of federal control will be justified under this new provision.”

You can click here to read the original bill.

You can click here to download the proposed substitute.

Senator Colbeck indicated that there could be even more changes beyond what is in this draft.  In a comment on July 2 he said, “changes are still needed to preclude the loss of over $1.8B in federal funding and preclude a conflict with Article III, Section 2 of the MI Constitution.

So there are potentially three versions of SB 826.

1.  The one introduced and passed out of the Senate Education Commitee  Click here to read the original bill.
2.  The proposed substitute made available to Michigan Campaign for Liberty.  Click here to download the proposed substitute.
3.  A revised substitute with more changes but has not been made available for review.

Additionally there are  still strong concerns over “rebranding.”   Dr. Sandra Stotsky articulated that concern very well in her article, “A rose by any other name.”

“Rebranding” is exactly how state departments and boards of education are dealing with Common Core in the face of strong parent and teacher opposition to the federally backed standards. By changing the names of the standards or tests that measure such standards, but keeping the standards aligned with Common Core, policymakers have duped many unsuspecting stakeholders into believing their concerns have been addressed. They have not.

The “rebranding” doesn’t necessarily have to happen as part of the “repeal” process but could occur later if provisions of the substitute are retained and passed.

The original SB 826 states “NOT EARLIER THAN 5 YEARS” can new statewide standards be adopted.

The substitute bill retains the 5 year provision but ALSO grants that the content standards, science, and social studies and be changed “as necessary.”  From section (3) of the substitute,

(B) THE SOCIAL STUDIES CONTENT STANDARDS MAY BE UPDATED AS APPROPRIATE TO REFLECT MORE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE WORLD, THE COUNTRY, AND THIS STATE.

(C) THE SCIENCE CONTENT STANDARDS MAY BE UPDATED AS APPROPRIATE TO ACCOMMODATE MORE RECENT DISCOVERIES THAT ARE EVIDENCE -BASED.

(D) THE CONTENT STANDARDS MAY BE MODIFIED AS NECESSARY TO ALIGN WITH STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS IN THIS STATE THAT AFFECT CURRICULUM.