While on the subject of thanking folks, we would be completely remiss in not thanking some dedicated folks who have stood up for the truth in the face of massive opposing forces:
Dr. Sandra Stotsky, Dr. James Milgram, Dr. Bill Evers, Ze'ev Wurman in particular (we're leaving out many more, to be sure) have been fighting this disaster known as Common Core for going on 3-4 years or more now.
All it takes is a few minutes of listening to any of them speak or reading their work, and you can see nothing deceptive or politically motivated in what they say -- it is clear they have little, if anything, to personally gain from defeating Common Core.
They truly care about our kids, parents, teachers, schools and the success of education in our country.
They are experts. They are credible. They all speak out against Common Core.
In particular, you can see some examples of their exhaustive body of work on Dr. Stotsky's page here in the "Recent Professional Activities" section at the bottom:
http://www.uaedreform.org/sandra-stotsky/
Thank you all for the gifts you have given our nation. You are each a national treasure.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Friday, January 10, 2014
Thank you, Diane Ravitch and Mercedes Schneider
As parents of school-aged children living in California, "Common Core" was virtually an unknown for us up until about six months ago. That alone speaks volumes. We had been very involved with our local school and our childrens' education. We are avid readers and follow issues closely. So, why did this sneak up on us? All of us? More background here.
As even more background, ourselves, we spent K through college in public schools/state colleges. My dad was an educator in public schools for ~30 years. Our kids are in public schools. We have, thus far, supported public education.
However, the more we had learned about Common Core and the more we dug into the background, the players, the process... the more it has troubled us. So much so, that we've started this little blog and site.
We have been very disappointed with the virtual silence, even from other Stop Common Core folks, about the situation in California. Silence too from those who we'd most expect to come out against Common Core, such as CA politicians, from along the political spectrum. It is a complete disservice to voters, taxpayers, parents, teachers... most of all, our kids.
Of all the states, California least needs Common Core. More on that here.
Of all the states, California's taxpayer dollars and time being spent (likely to balloon into billions) to advocate and implement Common Core must, by far, be the greatest.
Of all the states, California may very well be the most critical in keeping Common Core afloat. If California goes, the whole thing falls apart (in our view).
Of all the states, awareness of the facts surrounding Common Core, especially among parents (but also educators, school boards, administrators) seems to be one of the lowest.
That is why, we are grateful for the support from a few (but growing) and perhaps unlikely sources.
First, coming from Mercedes Schneider. Mercedes has done excellent research, especially into the data collection and money aspects of Common Core. She was supportive of our suggestion to add California to the list of states with some "unrest" about Common Core:
Is California “Common Core Unrest State #23″?
Then, just yesterday, we were thankful and surprised to see the kind words and post from Diane Ravitch on her blog regarding our Open School Standards (OSS) proposal for a more open model for standards, tests and materials:
A Brilliant Idea for Raising and Improving Standards: Open Source Them
California desperately needs more awareness of the downsides of Common Core. Thank you both for helping to shine some light on this issue and for the kind words.
More to come and we appreciate the support!
If you care about the future of public education in California, please learn all the facts about Common Core, especially related to California. Then hold your representatives, school boards and superintendents accountable to tell the whole truth and to work in collaboration with parents and teachers for what is best for California kids, and not for what may be politically convenient.
As even more background, ourselves, we spent K through college in public schools/state colleges. My dad was an educator in public schools for ~30 years. Our kids are in public schools. We have, thus far, supported public education.
However, the more we had learned about Common Core and the more we dug into the background, the players, the process... the more it has troubled us. So much so, that we've started this little blog and site.
We have been very disappointed with the virtual silence, even from other Stop Common Core folks, about the situation in California. Silence too from those who we'd most expect to come out against Common Core, such as CA politicians, from along the political spectrum. It is a complete disservice to voters, taxpayers, parents, teachers... most of all, our kids.
Of all the states, California least needs Common Core. More on that here.
Of all the states, California's taxpayer dollars and time being spent (likely to balloon into billions) to advocate and implement Common Core must, by far, be the greatest.
Of all the states, California may very well be the most critical in keeping Common Core afloat. If California goes, the whole thing falls apart (in our view).
Of all the states, awareness of the facts surrounding Common Core, especially among parents (but also educators, school boards, administrators) seems to be one of the lowest.
That is why, we are grateful for the support from a few (but growing) and perhaps unlikely sources.
First, coming from Mercedes Schneider. Mercedes has done excellent research, especially into the data collection and money aspects of Common Core. She was supportive of our suggestion to add California to the list of states with some "unrest" about Common Core:
Is California “Common Core Unrest State #23″?
Then, just yesterday, we were thankful and surprised to see the kind words and post from Diane Ravitch on her blog regarding our Open School Standards (OSS) proposal for a more open model for standards, tests and materials:
A Brilliant Idea for Raising and Improving Standards: Open Source Them
California desperately needs more awareness of the downsides of Common Core. Thank you both for helping to shine some light on this issue and for the kind words.
More to come and we appreciate the support!
If you care about the future of public education in California, please learn all the facts about Common Core, especially related to California. Then hold your representatives, school boards and superintendents accountable to tell the whole truth and to work in collaboration with parents and teachers for what is best for California kids, and not for what may be politically convenient.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Open School Standards (OSS): An alternative to Common Core? [Archived]
Please visit the new, live page here:
http://uncommoncalifornia.blogspot.com/2014/01/Open-School-Standards.html
Open standards have been used successful across many industries and technologies. They give flexibility to customize and adapt, while providing a foundation of available standards and interoperability.
Open Tests:
http://uncommoncalifornia.blogspot.com/2014/01/Open-School-Standards.html
Open standards have been used successful across many industries and technologies. They give flexibility to customize and adapt, while providing a foundation of available standards and interoperability.
Perhaps this framework could be used by states and
individual schools as an alternative to Common Core?
Open Standards:
- Seed a growing and ever updating list of standards, drawn for the best from state standards, around the country and around the world. Encourage standards experts, to participate, evaluate, score them, encourage or discourage them. Provide an open forum for standards to be evaluated, questioned, commented upon, rated, etc. Include parents, teachers, education experts.
- Provide ways to classify, group and sort them, by subject, recommended grade(s), ratings. When standards are similar or identical, they could be combined to reduce redundancy. Groups can work to evaluate, combine, rate them to “narrow” the list down or put forward their “recommended” set of standards. States and schools should just not be monetarily incentivized or forced to use any particular set.
- For each standards, test and materials publishers (see below) could “claim” alignment for their tests and study tools. Users would be able to “rate” and/or question this alignment (or lack thereof).
- Even the Washington D.C. lobby groups that created Common Core could “donate” their copyrights to the Common Core standards by putting them into the public domain & OSS!
- States and local school districts would be able to pick and choose which standards they would adopt and in which grade level and even within grade levels. Schools could have 2-3 levels of standards, based on below proficient, proficient and advanced levels. To take it further, schools might have a different set, customized to the level of the child in each subject. Want a particular math standard in 5th grade instead of 6th grade? No problem, just drag and drop it into your set. Truly “plug and play” standards.
Open Tests:
- Any company or individuals should be able to create software and/or paper tests that reference and draw from referenced open standards. This site is a great example of how aspects of how “open source” tests could work: http://quizlet.com/
- With software, each school and/or state would have their own, customized test based on their selected set of standards. Again, could be customized down to grades, subjects, proficiency levels, and even each student.
- Like the standards, groups could advocate their software or tests, allowing each state and school to choose. Smarter Balanced and PARCC could even become options, so long as they create tests that are chosen by each state and/or school, customized to their standards and open parent and teacher feedback mechanisms were in place.
- Reliability of the providers, especially the tests, would need to be well-monitored, especially to prevent sharing of test answers, etc.
Open Materials:
- Publishers won’t like this. Instead of unwieldy, expensive books, workbooks and other materials, published and purchased by states and schools en masse every 5-7 years, “books” could be produced in the form of print on demand inserts which could be customized for each state or school, based upon their selected set of standards. Individual sheets could be inserted into ring bound books, using cost-effective printing and binding materials, such that annual costs should be comparable to current costs. However, each state, school or student would get their own tailored set of materials, exactly matching their respective standards and tests.
- Likewise, teachers would get their own customized teachers books, guides and could select from a wide range of available, rated and aligned lesson plans, teaching materials, etc. However, with standards customization available by state and/or school and down to the levels of grade, subject and proficiency groups, the materials could be a better match for the teacher’s classroom and student. There would also be much more flexibility to modify, upgrade or downgrade the standards for the school, based upon PILOT implementations and teacher classroom experience.
- Like the standards and tests, open public forums could provide ratings, reviews, recommendations. And any group (and even teachers) can certainly recommend or promote their wares. Parents and even students currently have no forum to rate materials, perhaps this is the feedback loop that is desperately needed.
Data opt-out provisions:
- Parents should be allowed to opt-out of any sharing of their child’s data. Like just about every other company, surveys and sampling can be used to normalize results if needed, without having to have data on EVERY SINGLE child.
- Perhaps teachers could voluntarily request or opt-out of having any results tied to any incentives.
- Schools, likewise, should not be punished if they choose to opt-out of any statewide databases. Again, even if shared, parents should have ability to opt out.
- “Reformers” who want a “common” set of measurements and longitudinal test may not like it—though it would seem schools can still measure on each standard and show annual progress. Data geeks will have to live with not having data on every kid… sorry, it’s not a price parents want to be forced to pay.
Politics and money will still be factors. Yes, publishers would likely outspend smaller
rivals to push their tests and materials.
However, parent and teacher feedback loops and open forums of
communication could be critical offsets.
Like most open systems, the best standards, tests and materials should
rise to the top.
Thoughts? Has this been
proposed or tried previously? Out with
“one-size doesn’t fit all” and in with “many sizes fit all”?
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Open School Standards OSS: An alternative to Common Core?
Open standards have been used successful across many industries and technologies. They give flexibility to customize and adapt, while providing a foundation of available standards and interoperability.
Perhaps this framework could be used by states and
individual schools as an alternative to Common Core?
Open Standards:
- Seed a growing and ever updating list of standards, drawn for the best from state standards, around the country and around the world. Encourage standards experts, to participate, evaluate, score them, encourage or discourage them. Provide an open forum for standards to be evaluated, questioned, commented upon, rated, etc. Include parents, teachers, education experts.
- Provide ways to classify, group and sort them, by subject, recommended grade(s), ratings. When standards are similar or identical, they could be combined to reduce redundancy. Groups can work to evaluate, combine, rate them to “narrow” the list down or put forward their “recommended” set of standards. States and schools should just not be monetarily incentivized or forced to use any particular set.
- For each standards, test and materials publishers (see below) could “claim” alignment for their tests and study tools. Users would be able to “rate” and/or question this alignment (or lack thereof).
- Even the Washington D.C. lobby groups that created Common Core could “donate” their copyrights to the Common Core standards by putting them into the public domain & OSS!
- States and local school districts would be able to pick and choose which standards they would adopt and in which grade level and even within grade levels. Schools could have 2-3 levels of standards, based on below proficient, proficient and advanced levels. To take it further, schools might have a different set, customized to the level of the child in each subject. Want a particular math standard in 5th grade instead of 6th grade? No problem, just drag and drop it into your set. Truly “plug and play” standards.
Open Tests:
- Any company or individuals should be able to create software and/or paper tests that reference and draw from referenced open standards. This site is a great example of how aspects of how “open source” tests could work: http://quizlet.com/
- With software, each school and/or state would have their own, customized test based on their selected set of standards. Again, could be customized down to grades, subjects, proficiency levels, and even each student.
- Like the standards, groups could advocate their software or tests, allowing each state and school to choose. Smarter Balanced and PARCC could even become options, so long as they create tests that are chosen by each state and/or school, customized to their standards and open parent and teacher feedback mechanisms were in place.
- Reliability of the providers, especially the tests, would need to be well-monitored, especially to prevent sharing of test answers, etc.
Open Materials:
- Publishers won’t like this. Instead of unwieldy, expensive books, workbooks and other materials, published and purchased by states and schools en masse every 5-7 years, “books” could be produced in the form of print on demand inserts which could be customized for each state or school, based upon their selected set of standards. Individual sheets could be inserted into ring bound books, using cost-effective printing and binding materials, such that annual costs should be comparable to current costs. However, each state, school or student would get their own tailored set of materials, exactly matching their respective standards and tests.
- Likewise, teachers would get their own customized teachers books, guides and could select from a wide range of available, rated and aligned lesson plans, teaching materials, etc. However, with standards customization available by state and/or school and down to the levels of grade, subject and proficiency groups, the materials could be a better match for the teacher’s classroom and student. There would also be much more flexibility to modify, upgrade or downgrade the standards for the school, based upon PILOT implementations and teacher classroom experience. Here's another current example of something like this in action: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/
- Like the standards and tests, open public forums could provide ratings, reviews, recommendations. And any group (and even teachers) can certainly recommend or promote their wares. Parents and even students currently have no forum to rate materials, perhaps this is the feedback loop that is desperately needed. Only this close to this out there today is Great Schools, unfortunately they seem to be full steam ahead with Common Core (and got Gates money): http://www.greatschools.org/
Data opt-out provisions:
- Parents should be allowed to opt-out of any sharing of their child’s data. Like just about every other company, surveys and sampling can be used to normalize results if needed, without having to have data on EVERY child.
- Perhaps teachers could voluntarily request or opt-out of having any results tied to any incentives.
- Schools, likewise, should not be punished if they choose to opt-out of any statewide databases. Again, even if shared, parents should have ability to opt out.
- “Reformers” who want a “common” set of measurements and longitudinal test may not like it—though it would seem schools can still measure on each standard and show annual progress. Data geeks will have to live with not having data on every kid… sorry, it’s not a price parents (and teachers) want to be forced to pay. We have to drawn the line when it comes to data on children.
Politics and money will still be factors. Yes, publishers would likely outspend smaller
rivals to push their tests and materials.
However, parent and teacher feedback loops and open forums of
communication could be critical offsets.
Like most open systems, the best standards, tests and materials should
rise to the top.
Thoughts? Has this been
proposed or tried previously? Out with
“one-size doesn’t fit all” and in with “many sizes fit all”?
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Ads on Google: Who's paying to sell Common Core?
Who is paying Google to sell Common Core stuff?
You may have seen one of the many the good lists available of the folks who received Gates money to promote Common Core.
Here are a few:
stopcommoncorenc.org/2013/11/13/common-core-follow-gates-money/
http://deutsch29.wordpress.com/2013/08/27/a-brief-audit-of-bill-gates-common-core-spending/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/11/27/gates-foundation-pours-millions-into-common-core-in-2013/
What you may not have noticed, is the growing cadre of publishers, software companies and a host of others who are paying Google (and other websites) to promote Common Core and/or to peddle lots of stuff: software, books, lessons plans, workbooks, videos, practice tests, etc.
There was also this ad on Craigs list looking for Common Core writers:
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/12/27/Company-Offers-Jobs-Writing-Common-Core-Lesson-Plans-On-Craig-s-List
One easy way to see who may be profiting from Common Core (or trying to, anyway): Do a simple search on Google and look for the ads.
Below is a search on Google for "common core" done 12/28/13 from California (the ads change frequently and change based on your location).
The paid advertisements are shown in the Orange boxed areas and are usually labeled as "ads"...
While we do not have direct pricing data, it is likely that these folks
are paying Google probably in the range of $2 to $10 every time anyone clicks on their ad.
Scholastic appears to be one of the more efficient advertisers (not showing in this search results page) and are likely paying an advertising agency to manage their ads. Yep, check the lists above to see that Scholastic also received ~$6.7M in Gates money.
Scholastic appears to be using a technique in search engine advertising called "negative exact match." With this setting, they are likely not placing any ads for searches of the exact "common core" phrase. Rather, they are only placing ads when another word or phrase is also used in the search. For example, Scholastic's ads do not show up when we searched for "common core." However their ads did show when we added one or more words to the search, for example, when we searched for "common core stinks" or "common core is dumb" (or other less family-friendly words and phrases).
See below example below:
Scholastic (or its agency) is likely doing this to avoid the throng of crowds driving up the price on the exact phrase "common core." Note that Google's "pay per click" ad system is a bidding model where competition for search terms increases the "per click" ad price.
Scholastic also appears to only be advertising this way in California or they have dynamic or custom state-specific web pages. This shows some sophistication that only comes with paying someone (probably to the tune of tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars per year), just to manage these ad campaigns. However, since their paid ads show for things like "common core stinks," it appears whomever they hired is not doing their job well.
Another interesting Common Core ad spender leads to a site called "Get to the Core" (get2core.org), put out by the Stand for Children advocacy group. Think they might be on the Gates money list? Yep. Appears they received ~$8.4M from Gates for Common Core. Perhaps they are spending a chunk of that money on these Google ads. At least they do not try to obscure their mission, which appears to be "defending" Common Core (see pop-up below from their website):
With the Google advertisers, many appear to be buying ads nationwide, even in states like Texas where Common Core was not adopted. With these ad placements, they are mostly wasting their time and money.
The ads appearing for these searches are likely costing these companies millions per year, just for Google advertising. The costs are sure to increase next year when Common Core is rolled out widely and parents and teachers will be searching online for help. If these companies are spending millions to promote Common Core on Google, imagine they are expecting to make tens or perhaps hundreds of millions in return. Or they may just be looking for places to waste, er um, spend Gates money.
Click the links below to see who is buying ads in your state or location:
https://www.google.com/search?q=common+core
https://www.google.com/search?q=common+core+stinks
If you see anything interesting, odd or funny, please take a screenshot and come back to share it with us here in the Comments section! Thank you!
You may have seen one of the many the good lists available of the folks who received Gates money to promote Common Core.
Here are a few:
stopcommoncorenc.org/2013/11/13/common-core-follow-gates-money/
http://deutsch29.wordpress.com/2013/08/27/a-brief-audit-of-bill-gates-common-core-spending/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/11/27/gates-foundation-pours-millions-into-common-core-in-2013/
What you may not have noticed, is the growing cadre of publishers, software companies and a host of others who are paying Google (and other websites) to promote Common Core and/or to peddle lots of stuff: software, books, lessons plans, workbooks, videos, practice tests, etc.
There was also this ad on Craigs list looking for Common Core writers:
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/12/27/Company-Offers-Jobs-Writing-Common-Core-Lesson-Plans-On-Craig-s-List
One easy way to see who may be profiting from Common Core (or trying to, anyway): Do a simple search on Google and look for the ads.
Below is a search on Google for "common core" done 12/28/13 from California (the ads change frequently and change based on your location).
The paid advertisements are shown in the Orange boxed areas and are usually labeled as "ads"...
While we do not have direct pricing data, it is likely that these folks
are paying Google probably in the range of $2 to $10 every time anyone clicks on their ad. Scholastic appears to be one of the more efficient advertisers (not showing in this search results page) and are likely paying an advertising agency to manage their ads. Yep, check the lists above to see that Scholastic also received ~$6.7M in Gates money.
Scholastic appears to be using a technique in search engine advertising called "negative exact match." With this setting, they are likely not placing any ads for searches of the exact "common core" phrase. Rather, they are only placing ads when another word or phrase is also used in the search. For example, Scholastic's ads do not show up when we searched for "common core." However their ads did show when we added one or more words to the search, for example, when we searched for "common core stinks" or "common core is dumb" (or other less family-friendly words and phrases).
See below example below:
Scholastic also appears to only be advertising this way in California or they have dynamic or custom state-specific web pages. This shows some sophistication that only comes with paying someone (probably to the tune of tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars per year), just to manage these ad campaigns. However, since their paid ads show for things like "common core stinks," it appears whomever they hired is not doing their job well.
Another interesting Common Core ad spender leads to a site called "Get to the Core" (get2core.org), put out by the Stand for Children advocacy group. Think they might be on the Gates money list? Yep. Appears they received ~$8.4M from Gates for Common Core. Perhaps they are spending a chunk of that money on these Google ads. At least they do not try to obscure their mission, which appears to be "defending" Common Core (see pop-up below from their website):
With the Google advertisers, many appear to be buying ads nationwide, even in states like Texas where Common Core was not adopted. With these ad placements, they are mostly wasting their time and money.
The ads appearing for these searches are likely costing these companies millions per year, just for Google advertising. The costs are sure to increase next year when Common Core is rolled out widely and parents and teachers will be searching online for help. If these companies are spending millions to promote Common Core on Google, imagine they are expecting to make tens or perhaps hundreds of millions in return. Or they may just be looking for places to waste, er um, spend Gates money.
Click the links below to see who is buying ads in your state or location:
https://www.google.com/search?q=common+core
https://www.google.com/search?q=common+core+stinks
If you see anything interesting, odd or funny, please take a screenshot and come back to share it with us here in the Comments section! Thank you!
Friday, December 20, 2013
California: Common Core's last stand in 2014?
Of all the states, Common Core makes the least amount of sense for California… it’s the most absurd of all.
We have more to say about this after months of research, but, briefly here’s why:
- California’s current state standards, especially in math, have already been rated by the experts, and even the politically-appointed California standards evaluation committee, as being superior to Common Core. In math, most Common Core standards put our kids a about year behind where we have been with our CA state standards. We had some of the best standards in the nation and now are effectively “failing” every child, holding kids back almost an entire year. Next year under the new Common Core standards, our straight-A son will effectively be re-taking much of his 5th grade math all over again in 6th grade under Common Core. We have the data to show this, standard by standard, and it's public information that most of the public (and most in education or politics) have likely never seen. Look for more on this soon.
- California did NOT get any Race to the Top grants for K-12. Zero. So all the hoops California jumped through in 2009-10 were all in vain. Yet, defying all logic, we are still spending $1.25B+ taxpayer dollars (when voters did not intend the money to be used for this) and probably 10+ years of work, just to switch to LOWER standards.
- California already had very strong progress in public schools the past 10-12 years. Under our already truly "rigorous" state standards, curriculum and tests, our state test scores and college-readiness measures have been increasing steadily, across all demographics, DESPITE our huge influx on new, non-English speaking students and HUGE increases in class sizes. Where we live, our public schools have been rated as some of the best in the nation, despite also having grown to ~35 kids in a class (from ~20 just a few years ago).
- The $1.2B that is going to go to big publishers for new materials, countless re-education camps for teachers, testing administration, etc. could be used for SO MANY other things... pick your favorite: hiring more teachers, more pay for teachers, credentialing, technology improvements, etc. The opportunity costs for throwing out a decade of test results and progress is immeasurable. Likewise is holding an entire generation of kids back a grade for an entire year. What is the cost of this?!
Added (12/21/13):
- Apparently, Gov. Brown opposes Common Core. He's made statements in the past he opposes gov. standards and tests, he did again just this past week. However, its confounding that he's also asked for and got $1.25B to implement it. Watch for him to now divert that money elsewhere and/or completely get rid of or delay any standardized testing or having it be used for ANYTHING. Testing to appease some folks, while not using the tests for anything to appease others.
- California is a local control state, which means any school district may reject Common Core. In an election year in 2014, watch the sparks fly in school board and local races, esp. in Republican dominated districts. We have already seen many districts having fiery Common Core debates and forums. Unfortunately for those districts, parent and teacher concerns have been ignored, possibly to the peril of those School Board members in future elections.
- California also has a voter recall (remember what happened to Gov. Davis 10 years ago?) and proposition process. If unrest grows, it could turn into a recall or proposition seeking to defund or reverse Common Core implementation.
- The waivers from the Feds: Schools in California, it seems, should be getting waivers from the DOE for not doing full testing in 2014 and using scores to measure teachers. Some have already been granted. How can the executive branch of the government "waive" a federal law? Seems more and more common tactic of this DOE and the administration (just look to "amendments" to FERPA in 2008 and 2011). Other states can't be happy about this. Turns out some Common Core fans are not happy about this either:
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2013/12/advocacy_groups_push_back_on_c.html
For California, Common Core makes absolutely no sense, regardless of your political views on other issues. It defies logic in every way.
Yet, we have not heard any arguments from anyone in California justifying any of the above... let alone any good arguments.
The California story is truly unique, not found in other states. Other state Common Core proponents may argue, “Well, Common Core increases our standards from where we were before and we need to compete Internationally.” Others with great state standards, like Massachusetts, at least got some of the federal money and RTT grants to help justify and mask the true dumbness of their moves. Other states have many schools that are very underfunded, struggling or just desperate. Not so in California.
Furtrher, the California government (Democrats and Republicans) have shown some willingness to snub Sec. Arne Duncan and D.C. (see the fight over AB 484). We also have folks from all sides of the political spectrum willing to stand up against Common Core.
If California were to opt out of Common Core (a long-shot, perhaps, but we are hopeful), COMMON CORE would be no more. It would completely collapse without California’s ~6M students. Our prediction: If Common Core loses at least 50% of the nation’s students (even if not 50% of the states), it would collapse and mostly die as national effort.
Ironically, thanks to the media and school administrations being in the tank for CommonCore, California also likely has the lowest awareness among parents about all of the above and about all of the downsides of Common Core. We also have probably some of the heaviest PR campaigns coming from our Dept. of Ed and school administrations pushing Common Core.
In 2014, when California parents and teachers wake up and realize the nightmare we are in and see through the PR campaign and story we've been sold, you can be sure there will be enough outrage to make many changes, especially in the 2014 election year.
In a scan of ~16 California politicians running for office in 2014, not even ONE mentions Common Core on their websites. We intend this to change to be nearly 100% mentioning Common Core, pro or con, one way or another. If you are representing voters in our state and in your districts, at least be upfront and honest with those voters about where you stand on this important issue. We intend to work with others to produce voters guides making this information more clear and more available.
Look for Common Core to be a defining issue in 2014, especially in California. It may be the sleeping giant that seals the fate of Common Core.
What do you think?
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and keep putting our California children and their education FIRST in California. California kids are not common.
We have more to say about this after months of research, but, briefly here’s why:
- California’s current state standards, especially in math, have already been rated by the experts, and even the politically-appointed California standards evaluation committee, as being superior to Common Core. In math, most Common Core standards put our kids a about year behind where we have been with our CA state standards. We had some of the best standards in the nation and now are effectively “failing” every child, holding kids back almost an entire year. Next year under the new Common Core standards, our straight-A son will effectively be re-taking much of his 5th grade math all over again in 6th grade under Common Core. We have the data to show this, standard by standard, and it's public information that most of the public (and most in education or politics) have likely never seen. Look for more on this soon.
- California did NOT get any Race to the Top grants for K-12. Zero. So all the hoops California jumped through in 2009-10 were all in vain. Yet, defying all logic, we are still spending $1.25B+ taxpayer dollars (when voters did not intend the money to be used for this) and probably 10+ years of work, just to switch to LOWER standards.
- California already had very strong progress in public schools the past 10-12 years. Under our already truly "rigorous" state standards, curriculum and tests, our state test scores and college-readiness measures have been increasing steadily, across all demographics, DESPITE our huge influx on new, non-English speaking students and HUGE increases in class sizes. Where we live, our public schools have been rated as some of the best in the nation, despite also having grown to ~35 kids in a class (from ~20 just a few years ago).
- The $1.2B that is going to go to big publishers for new materials, countless re-education camps for teachers, testing administration, etc. could be used for SO MANY other things... pick your favorite: hiring more teachers, more pay for teachers, credentialing, technology improvements, etc. The opportunity costs for throwing out a decade of test results and progress is immeasurable. Likewise is holding an entire generation of kids back a grade for an entire year. What is the cost of this?!
Added (12/21/13):
- Apparently, Gov. Brown opposes Common Core. He's made statements in the past he opposes gov. standards and tests, he did again just this past week. However, its confounding that he's also asked for and got $1.25B to implement it. Watch for him to now divert that money elsewhere and/or completely get rid of or delay any standardized testing or having it be used for ANYTHING. Testing to appease some folks, while not using the tests for anything to appease others.
- California is a local control state, which means any school district may reject Common Core. In an election year in 2014, watch the sparks fly in school board and local races, esp. in Republican dominated districts. We have already seen many districts having fiery Common Core debates and forums. Unfortunately for those districts, parent and teacher concerns have been ignored, possibly to the peril of those School Board members in future elections.
- California also has a voter recall (remember what happened to Gov. Davis 10 years ago?) and proposition process. If unrest grows, it could turn into a recall or proposition seeking to defund or reverse Common Core implementation.
- The waivers from the Feds: Schools in California, it seems, should be getting waivers from the DOE for not doing full testing in 2014 and using scores to measure teachers. Some have already been granted. How can the executive branch of the government "waive" a federal law? Seems more and more common tactic of this DOE and the administration (just look to "amendments" to FERPA in 2008 and 2011). Other states can't be happy about this. Turns out some Common Core fans are not happy about this either:
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2013/12/advocacy_groups_push_back_on_c.html
For California, Common Core makes absolutely no sense, regardless of your political views on other issues. It defies logic in every way.
Yet, we have not heard any arguments from anyone in California justifying any of the above... let alone any good arguments.
The California story is truly unique, not found in other states. Other state Common Core proponents may argue, “Well, Common Core increases our standards from where we were before and we need to compete Internationally.” Others with great state standards, like Massachusetts, at least got some of the federal money and RTT grants to help justify and mask the true dumbness of their moves. Other states have many schools that are very underfunded, struggling or just desperate. Not so in California.
Furtrher, the California government (Democrats and Republicans) have shown some willingness to snub Sec. Arne Duncan and D.C. (see the fight over AB 484). We also have folks from all sides of the political spectrum willing to stand up against Common Core.
If California were to opt out of Common Core (a long-shot, perhaps, but we are hopeful), COMMON CORE would be no more. It would completely collapse without California’s ~6M students. Our prediction: If Common Core loses at least 50% of the nation’s students (even if not 50% of the states), it would collapse and mostly die as national effort.
Ironically, thanks to the media and school administrations being in the tank for CommonCore, California also likely has the lowest awareness among parents about all of the above and about all of the downsides of Common Core. We also have probably some of the heaviest PR campaigns coming from our Dept. of Ed and school administrations pushing Common Core.
In 2014, when California parents and teachers wake up and realize the nightmare we are in and see through the PR campaign and story we've been sold, you can be sure there will be enough outrage to make many changes, especially in the 2014 election year.
In a scan of ~16 California politicians running for office in 2014, not even ONE mentions Common Core on their websites. We intend this to change to be nearly 100% mentioning Common Core, pro or con, one way or another. If you are representing voters in our state and in your districts, at least be upfront and honest with those voters about where you stand on this important issue. We intend to work with others to produce voters guides making this information more clear and more available.
Look for Common Core to be a defining issue in 2014, especially in California. It may be the sleeping giant that seals the fate of Common Core.
What do you think?
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and keep putting our California children and their education FIRST in California. California kids are not common.
Friday, December 6, 2013
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