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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
We’re making progress but more work needs to be done. Please continue calling and emailing. As of today, House Concurrent Resolution 11 (HCR 11) sits in the Senator Government Operations Committee chaired by Senate Majority Leader Richardville. There was no meeting this week. There is a meeting scheduled for October 15, 2013 but HCR 11 […]
A common lie spread by those who support the common core is that this is a standard and not a curriculum which they say will be left up to the local districts. Kyle Olsen at EAG News has it exactly right about how local districts will purchase curriculum under Common Core. “One might argue […]
The calls and emails are working. House Concurrent Resolution 11 (HCR 11) is in the Senate Government Operations Committee chaired by Senate Majority Leader Richardville. He is feeling the heat and rightly so. HCR 11 should NOT be in Government Operations but in Education or Appropriations. In a statement to MIRS News Service, […]
Yesterday, I spoke with a Senate aide regarding Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBAC) to go with the Common Core standards. He challenged my assertion that the federal government is developing the tests with SBAC and not just funding them. I referred him to the technical review announced by the Federal Department of Education last March. From […]
Yesterday, Senator Richardville oddly and abruptly moved House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 11) out of Appropriations to the Government Operations Committee. Why a Common Core resolution would be referred to the Government Operations Committee was confusing to me especially after a joint committee heard over three hours of testimony the previous day. I made various calls […]
Action Item: Call the Government Operations Committee members (names and numbers below) and let them know you want them to “do their job” and hold public hearings to discuss the serious issues with Common Core and HCR 11 and that you want an amendment to REMOVE Michigan from the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortia. Legislative Recap […]
UPDATE: Lori Higgins at The Detroit Free Press has rewritten the original article to say that the website can stay up. Kurt Weiss, spokesman for the technology, management and budget department said. Not only will the site remain up, Weiss said, but there is also no need to remove any Common Core materials. However, the […]