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
We have several calls to action and items to update so please read the entire post. Thanks! Despite the persistent rhetoric of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, ESSA did NOT do away with Common Core. DeVos and education reformers are working overtime to move away from any discussion Common Core. DeVos is still going […]
rRepresentative Gary Glenn sponsored HB 4192, Repeal & Replace Common Core. With 29 co-sponsors, it is stuck in the Michigan Competitiveness committee (chair Representative Lee Chatfield). No other state has successfully jettisoned Common Core. We believe Michigan can be the first but WE NEED YOUR HELP. Please contact members of the Competitiveness Committee and […]
It is time to jettison Common Core and high stakes testing. Common Core and high stakes testing are hurting our children, undermining the teaching profession and destroying our public schools Representative Gary Glenn sponsored HB 4192, Repeal & Replace Common Core. With 29 co-sponsors, it is stuck in the Michigan Competitiveness committee (chair Representative Lee […]
Many parents are contacting me asking about opting out of M-STEP. Parents, your students do NOT have to take M-STEP. You’re the parent and YOU do have a choice despite what the MDE or your local district may be telling you. I had to chuckle a bit with the wording of the letter sent […]
In a previous post, Melanie Kurdys wrote about the possibility of a “fake” repeal or a “rebrand” of Common Core based on rumblings around the Lansing about HB 4192. Kurdys concern appears to be more than idle speculation considering a recent interview with MI House Speaker Leonard and what happened to a similar bill in […]
The second hearing in the Michigan Competitiveness Committee on HB 4192 was held on March 15. Bob Kefgen, Director of Government Relations for Michigan Secondary School Principals testified against the bill. During his remarks (archive here) Kefgen asked proponents of HB 4192 several direct questions that he claims he has not been given any answers. […]
We have heard rumblings about repealing Common Core in Michigan and offering NO replacement. This would be a “FAKE” repeal. A ‘fake” repeal provides a political win for politicians, but a substantial loss for children. “Repeal and not replace” approach looks different than in other states, like Indiana, where Common Core was repealed, then replaced […]
HB 4192, Repeal & Replace Common Core is up for a second hearing Wednesday, March 15 at noon in the Anderson Building 5th floor. If you are able to attend, that would be wonderful. The opposition from the MDE and lobbyists is strong. Please call the chair of the Michigan Competitiveness Committee, Representative Lee Chatfield’s […]
A new report to be released Friday by Governor Snyder’s 21st Century Education Commission seeks to either appoint members to the State Board of Education or abolish it altogether. “The State Board of Education should either be abolished or its members appointed by the governor, according to a panel commissioned by Gov. Rick Snyder to […]
(Note: This post is lengthy but necessary to understand HB 4192 and why common national standards must be repealed and replace.) In his testimony before the House Competitiveness Committee on HB 4192 to repeal and replace Common Core, science, social studies and assessments, Paul Salah from Wayne County RESA, said, “The Common Core is much […]