Right-To-Learn Opt-out Campaign

Timeline of Events in Michigan June 15, 2010 Michigan State Board approved Standards only 13 days after their final release. Fall 2012 Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium releases sample items and assessment blueprints. February 19,2013 HB 4276 Introduced in Michigan House of Representatives. HB 4276 would rescind the adoption of of Common Core by the State Boards and discontinue any assessments aligned to the Common Core. Bill referred to Education Committee.

2013 March 2013 Hearing on HB Testimony from experts on CCSS validation committee who refused to sign off of standards was ignored by the MDE and state school officials. The U.S. Department of Education created technical-review process for the two state consortia, SBAC and PARCC. Spring 2013, Over 700 Michigan schools participate in Smarter Balanced pilot test June 6, 2013 Budget passed with “pause” for Common Core. With the vote of the Michigan Senate this week, Michigan has pause language on Common Core and Smarter Balanced Assessments in the budget. In summary, it says the pause will remain in effect until the legislature votes to stop the pause. Summer 2013 Hearings Chaired by Representative Tim Kelly held to gain information about the Common Core. Invited speakers and time allowed are weighted heavily in favor of the Common Core.

Summer 2013 Summer 2013 Hearings Chaired by Representative Tim Kelly held to gain information about the Common Core. Invited speakers and time allowed are weighted heavily in favor of the Common Core. September 2013 House Resolution HR 11 is written. If passed, HR 11 would allow the implementation of Common Core to continue in Michigan HR 11 is passed and referred to Senate.

Fall Current October 2013 HR 11 becomes HCR 11 resolution and is gaveled through Senate by voice vote in the Senate. This resolution is perceived as the legislative “action” necessary and Common Core moves forward. Further review of assessments planned pending a report of the MDE due by Dec Gov. Rick Snyder issues statement in support of Common Core. December 2013 MDE releases Report on Assessment Options for Michigan’s K-12 educational standards (Document available upon request.) January 2014 Joint hearing of several committees on MDE report on assessments. February 2014 Second Joint hearing on assessments. MDE and ACT present. Public testimony heard in favor of Michigan retaining control over assessments.

The End-Game Local Control: The casualty of Common Core “ …the United States will have to largely abandon the beloved emblem of American education: local control. If the goal is to greatly increase the capacity and authority of the state education agencies, much of the new authority will have to come at the expense of local control.” Marc Tucker Governing American Education Why This Dry Subject May Hold the Key to Advances in American Education

Students are commodity and to be tested, tracked, and shipped like a UPS package to their final destination in the global economy.

The P-20 System There is no high school diploma in such systems. There are only the standards and the grades one gets on one’s exams, and those grades are understood in the same way by the school authorities, the students, the parents, the employers, and the universities and technical schools. What is effective about such a system is that all students know just what they have to do to go on to the next stage of their lives. Schools know what they need to teach for their students to be successful. Employers and universities know how to interpret the information they get from the exams Most important, the vast majority of students take tough courses and work hard in school, both before and after they take their first set of exams at the age of 16, because they see a direct connection between the effort they put in at school and the path they have decide they want to follow. The downside of such a system, from an American standpoint, is that, in its traditional form in most countries, it has been used to sort students into futures from which there is little chance of escape. The downside of such a system, from an American standpoint, is that, in its traditional form in most countries, it has been used to sort students into futures from which there is little chance of escape.

From Citizens Are Winning the Common Core War. From Citizens Are Winning the Common Core War.Citizens Are Winning the Common Core War.Citizens Are Winning the Common Core War.

Parents: YOU are the authority The future of your children should not be dictated by the demands of the state of Michigan but the dreams of your children. Do NOT be intimidated the law is on YOUR side.

THE REVISED SCHOOL CODE (EXCERPT) Act 451 of THE REVISED SCHOOL CODE (EXCERPT) Act 451 of Rights of parents and legal guardians; duties of public schools. [M.S.A ] Sec. 10. It is the natural, fundamental right of parents and legal guardians to determine and direct the care, teaching, and education of their children. The public schools of this state serve the needs of the pupils by cooperating with the pupil's parents and legal guardians to develop the pupil's intellectual capabilities and vocational skills in a safe and positive environment. HistoryAdd. 1995, Act 289, Eff. July 1, 1996