As parents and the public start to vet the sweeping change to public education in the United States, controversy is a buzz, as the process provided for minimal public engagement. Most states adopted the standards before they were written, and did so for financial reasons.
If Californians hear a rumble deep within the ground, it is not an earthquake, but our founding fathers rolling in their graves. How did we get to a place in America where a hand full of people, not even representatives elected by the people, negotiate sweeping changes to healthcare, and now education without going through our legislative process?
As we are finding out with Obama Care, there are unintended consequences when we allow our representatives to work outside our constitutional framework. California's own Nancy Peolsi said it herself: "We have to pass the health care bill so you can find out what's in it." (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoE1R-xH5To) Now that we are beginning to learn what is in the Bill- many americans are finding out that it is not at all what we were told. I feel that we will find much the same with the adoption of the Common Core as many states are already working to back pedal on implementation of the new standards. (see http://truthinamericaneducation.com/common-core-state-standards/states-fighting-back-map/)
My problem is not with the standards, because I am still not quiet sure what they are. But, if you look at CUSD for example- the District has changed the Math standards at least seven or eight times this year; as well as the qualifications for math placement, and the implementation from California State Standards to Common Core Standards. That doesn't comfort me as a parent who is trying to navigate the education system to insure that my child will not be a failed experiment for? for who? Ah - that is interesting indeed.
Who is the architect of the Common Core?
What Common Core is not-
The Common Core is not a product of the Obama administration. Nor is it a State lead initiative. The main driver behind the Common Core is a not-for-profit organization called Achieve, Inc. (see: http://www.achieve.org/) working in conjunction with the National Governors Association (see http://www.nga.org/cms/home/nga-center-for-best-practices/center-divisions/center-issues/page-edu-is...) with substantial funding from the Gates Foundation.
"At the 1996 National Education Summit a bipartisan group of governors and corporate leaders decided to create and lead an organization dedicated to supporting standards-based education reform efforts across the states. To do so, they formed Achieve as an independent, bi-partisan, non-profit education reform organization.
If Californians hear a rumble deep within the ground, it is not an earthquake, but our founding fathers rolling in their graves. How did we get to a place in America where a hand full of people, not even representatives elected by the people, negotiate sweeping changes to healthcare, and now education without going through our legislative process?
As we are finding out with Obama Care, there are unintended consequences when we allow our representatives to work outside our constitutional framework. California's own Nancy Peolsi said it herself: "We have to pass the health care bill so you can find out what's in it." (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoE1R-xH5To) Now that we are beginning to learn what is in the Bill- many americans are finding out that it is not at all what we were told. I feel that we will find much the same with the adoption of the Common Core as many states are already working to back pedal on implementation of the new standards. (see http://truthinamericaneducation.com/common-core-state-standards/states-fighting-back-map/)
My problem is not with the standards, because I am still not quiet sure what they are. But, if you look at CUSD for example- the District has changed the Math standards at least seven or eight times this year; as well as the qualifications for math placement, and the implementation from California State Standards to Common Core Standards. That doesn't comfort me as a parent who is trying to navigate the education system to insure that my child will not be a failed experiment for? for who? Ah - that is interesting indeed.
Who is the architect of the Common Core?
- Is the implementation of Common Core State Standards really about making changes to education in order to provide more students with the necessary skills to be employed by business or prepare them to go to college?
- Is the implementation of the Common Core State Standards a federal takeover of public education designed to take control of the curriculum in local public schools in order to control the minds of our future generations?
- Is the implementation of Common Core States Standards a Federal takeover of education driven by private sector corporate giants poised to make billions of dollars in profits?
What Common Core is not-
The Common Core is not a product of the Obama administration. Nor is it a State lead initiative. The main driver behind the Common Core is a not-for-profit organization called Achieve, Inc. (see: http://www.achieve.org/) working in conjunction with the National Governors Association (see http://www.nga.org/cms/home/nga-center-for-best-practices/center-divisions/center-issues/page-edu-is...) with substantial funding from the Gates Foundation.
"At the 1996 National Education Summit a bipartisan group of governors and corporate leaders decided to create and lead an organization dedicated to supporting standards-based education reform efforts across the states. To do so, they formed Achieve as an independent, bi-partisan, non-profit education reform organization.
To this day, Achieve remains the only education reform organization led by a Board of Directors of governors and business leaders. This unique perspective has enabled Achieve to set a bold and visionary agenda over the past 15 years, leading Education Week in 2006 to rank Achieve as one of the most influential education policy organizations in the nation."
What was the reason 45 states adopted Common Core State Standards before knowing what they were? For financial savings from waivers from No Child Left Behind and for Receiving Race to The Top Funds. It had nothing to do with the quality of the standards or the benefit to our children.
For California's implementation timeline see Common Core State Standards Systems Implementation – Significant Milestones Timeline)
To see CUSD's latest Math Implementation plan dated 11/6/13 see: http://sanjuancapistrano.patch.com/groups/eye-on-education/p/common-core--changing-cusds-math-curric...
For California's implementation timeline see Common Core State Standards Systems Implementation – Significant Milestones Timeline)
To see CUSD's latest Math Implementation plan dated 11/6/13 see: http://sanjuancapistrano.patch.com/groups/eye-on-education/p/common-core--changing-cusds-math-curric...
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