Common Core What 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 “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 Year State Level Activities District Level Activities $3.6M$35.1M $3.8M$41.8M $3.8M$33.7M

What Will It Do For Students? Math Standards Shifts Algebra 1 from 8 th to 9 th grade Nearly impossible to take necessary higher-level math by graduation Geometry taught by experimental method (never used successfully) Dr. Milgraham believes by 8 th grade students will be 2 years behind compared to international students English Language Arts Dr. Sandra Stotsky : “empty skill sets” College-ready reading level : 7 th 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 pending Rejected CCSS Waiting 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? *