Common CoreWhat You Need to Know

Timeline• February 2009 – Stimulus Bill

• $4.35 Billion to Department of Education - Arne Duncan states he wants to be catalyst for Common Core in CNN interview

• November 2009 - “Race to the Top” competition created. Phase 1 applications due January 2010

• To successfully apply for Race to the Top grants, states agreed to Common Core sight unseen (First draft of standards, March 2010)

• 45 states (+DC) applied in Phase 1. Only 11 states (+DC) were awarded grants ($$).

• MA applied in Phase 1, but did not agree to adopt CCSI. They were rated 13 out of 16. In Phase 2 (June 2010), MA did not change their application, but did agree to adopt CCSI…rated #1.

Common Core Standards• Common Core is NOT a curriculum, but

• Standards drive curriculum and

• Standards drive assessment

• “One Size Fits All” format

Who’s Behind Common Core?• Achieve, Inc.

• National Governor’s Association

• Council of Chief State School Officers

• Major funding by Gates Foundation - $100+ million

NOT state led – these are trade associations based in DC

Common Core• National K-12 content standards for Math and English Language Arts

• Misleading – promoted as not a curriculum

• Standards dictate content

• Curriculum adds the details

• States must adhere word for word to the standards

• May only add up to 15% in any area

• Two Consortiums to choose from: Smarter Balance (Washington selected) PARCC

• Testing = multiple times each year per student

• All computer-based

• NEA gave $360M initially to testing consortiums – when it’s spent, states pick up the tab

A National Curriculum• Violates 3 Federal Statutes

• General Education Provision Act

• Department of Education Organization Act

• Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965

• Education without Representation

• No power to change

• No one to call locally or at state-level

• Owned and copywrited by NGA and CCSSO

Washington’s Implementation Cost Estimates• Estimated $16B nationwide

• Includes

• Professional development

• Textbooks and instructional materials

• Assessments

• Computer equipment

• Network upgrades and maintenance

• No one really knows

School YearState Level Activities

District Level

Activities

2012-13 $3.6M $35.1M

2013-14 $3.8M $41.8M

2014-2015 $3.8M $33.7M

What Will It Do For Students?Math Standards

• Shifts Algebra 1 from 8th to 9th grade

• Nearly impossible to take necessary higher-level math by graduation

• Geometry taught by experimental method (never used successfully)

• Dr. Milgraham believes by 8th grade students will be 2 years behind compared to international students

English Language Arts

• Dr. Sandra Stotsky : “empty skill sets”

• College-ready reading level : 7th grade

• De-emphasis on classic literature

• Informational text

• Treat historical documents without context or historical meaning

• Point of education is to be cogs in economic machine

Both Dr. Milgraham and Dr. Stotsky refused to sign off on standards

Bogus Reasons• Students moving from state to state need consistency

• Need comparisons across states

• NEAP

• ACT/SAT

• Highest-scoring nations

Potential Damage• Destroy school choice

• Homeschool/Private school

• Students will have to make career choice by Grade 9.

Data Tracking• 400 data points for each student

• Blood type

• Religion

• Household income

• Pressure to turn over data to gov’t agencies

• Family Education Rights and Privacy Act – gutted

• Goal: track students from preschool through career

In Development• Science

• History/Social Studies

• Health

Rejection pendingRejected CCSSWaiting for reality

As of June 24, 2013

Decentralize Education!Chief Justice John Roberts:

States should “defend their prerogatives by adopting ‘the simple expedient of not yielding’ to federal blandishments when they do not want to embrace the federal policies as their own. The States are separate and independent sovereigns. Sometimes they have to act like it.”

How Do We Stop Common Core in Washington?

Educate Yourself

• Videos• Websites*• Articles• Sharon

Hanek• Glenn Beck

Educate Others

• Neighbors• Teachers• School

Boards

Contact Legislators

• Mike Hewitt• Maureen

Walsh• Terry

Nealey• Education

Committee members

*www.stopcommoncorewa.wordpress.comwww.whatiscommoncore.wordpress.com