Unintended Consequences

As you may know, children with special needs are one of our BIG concerns here at PEACCS. This blog post is a must read. I read it when it was first written, as the mother is an acquaintance of mine and a fantastic supporter and fighter for special needs children, not just her own. Her letter should say it all and in the end, she is a great mom doing her son a great service by fighting for him!

After the jump: http://dianeravitch.net/2013/11/05/academic-standards-and-a-boy-with-autism/

~~Amy

Postcards from the Edge

I recently attended a workshop put on by a special education advocacy group. The workshop was intended to introduce us special ed parents to how to navigate the 'major shifts in implementing common core standards.'.

I went, with my full bias against Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and I took as many notes as I could. There was a slide show which is supposedly going to be available electronically. If it does not become available soon I will scan the paper handouts we were given to go along with it.

Here I will try to provide my notes and what links they provided.

The "quotes" may not be DIRECT and PERFECT quotes but as close as I could get writing them out. The workshop leaders were two women from the Louisiana State Dept. of Ed, Debra Dixon and Nanette Olivier.

The word "RIGOR" was mentioned 12 times. In 90 minutes.

Quotes:

"CCSS is best led by teachers."
"Those students participating in PARCC assessments have accommodations available." So does this imply if you are a special ed student who refuses to take PARCC for any reason, you won't get any classroom accommodations as well?

"Intent is not to bring students down {in scores}".

From Jim Garvey, "BESE's feeling is expectations are raised, or scores will be similar as now. Not going to be a big drop in scores. Shouldn't be an increase in students failing the LEAP. What's considered passing is going to change. Maybe in the future we will raise the bar of the equivalent to the LEAP. I don't think you're going to see a change. We're not going to punish the students for that, or the schools. This is what we think is coming."

Um what? First off the first part of what he said was confusing and not clear. Secondly, what they THINK is coming? It's clear they don't know what they're doing.

"PARCC (and any standardized test) is a snapshot of the student, a narrow set of skills we look at. It's a small % of the child's growth."

"We have so much technology that we need to use." 
Right, meanwhile parents must buy their own assistive technology for their special needs student.

"CCSS is not a curriculum, it's a set of standards."
 We all know that party line. I will say it until I"m blue int the face, STANDARDS ALWAYS BEGET CURRICULUM.

This one is one of the best....
 "If we have concerns about education, IEPs, etc, we are always "welcome to contact the help desk at LaSDE." 

I'll wait while you pick yourself up from the laughter.

"How do we implement the standards?" (There was no answer.)

"Teachers really want your child to succeed." Well duh. Teachers don't do this job for the glory of snot on their shirts, they do it because they love what they do. But now, "teachers are even more accountable than ever." RIGHT, so THEIR job is dependant on our children's test scores and interaction in the classroom.

"It's never to early to prepare for PARCC on the IEP." Yup, nothing like high stakes testing for a child who's developmentally delayed.

"We've been spending too much time reading fiction over nonfiction." Um. Shut the front door. This is the part of the workshop that got me fired up and first spoke out. Are you freaking KIDDING ME? Classic literature is the backbone of classic education. 50/50 fiction/nonfiction for K-6, 70/30 nonfiction/fiction for 9-12. (gradual shift between 6-12). 70%. Still boggles my mind.

"We're asking kids to read more analytical texts." Right because every great artist was supported by reading welding technical manuals.

For the math standards, "emphasis on digging deep." Yeah, that's clear.

"Parents should always ask, "What is the priority for my child?" in an IEP." Again, most parents do this. But the school administrations do not make this easy, never have and I suspect never will. 

One of my favorites was the horrahing of St. Tammany Parish School Boards work in getting assistive technology in the classroom. CLEARLY, they have never listened to the stories about parents having to provide their own iPads, PECS programs and so on. I will say there are some AMAZING staff, teachers, therapists, and providers in the St. Tammany Parish system, including a dedicated AT specialist. But to say the school board provides these things as truly needed is a flat out LIE. It's not the fault of the therapists, it's the fault of the higher ups who argue the money game. Forget it's a child's right due to IDEA or their IEP. 

And my very favorite, they were quite clear and proud to make SURE we knew "Debra and Nanette did NOT say you can opt out of the PARCC assessments." They wanted that made very very clear. So clear it was almost as if they had someone breathing down their neck to make SURE we parents knew we couldn't opt out....I wonder who that could be. *cough cough, NGA, Tides Foundation, John White, Jindal, cough cough*.

So when your child who's in fourth grade but is at a 1st grade level developmentally fails the PARCC and struggles daily with the curriculum, (which is not written by the CCSS, even though its found on the Louisiana Believes website, until they realize we know and they scrub the site.), but when your child fails the PARCC and must be remediated, you be SURE to remind them that Debra and Nanette said, "Promotion and retention are decided at a local level."

And don't forget the rigor.

I need a drink.

Follow this Blog!

Sorry it's been awhile since we posted. We all are very busy as parents and educators and this fight against CCSS is very all consuming. Several of us also homeschool so to say we don't sleep much is an understatement.

We hope to add more info ASAP but please follow our fan page for more details that we more easily share. We can be found at https://www.facebook.com/ParentsAndEducatorsAgainstCCSS

But this is a MUST follow blog. Louisiana teacher telling it like it is.

http://deutsch29.wordpress.com/

Get thee there.

STEM Agenda from the NGA

STEM agenda from the NGA

I still want to know WHY the National Governors Association is even involved in education??

http://www.nga.org/files/live/sites/NGA/files/pdf/1112STEMGUIDE.PDF

Louisiana Birth to Five Standards

Getting down to our babies...it's out of control the amount of control THEY want!

http://www.louisianabelieves.com/docs/early-childhood/early-childhood---birth-to-five-standards.pdf?sfvrsn=2

Article: Teachers Rally Against Tests

New York.

Our children are more than dots on a test page!

http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/local/teachers-rally-against-tests-in-albany

Spanish Speaking Stop Common Core Page

Please refer your Spanish speaking friends to this page.
https://www.facebook.com/HispanosUnidosContraLasEstandaresEstatalesComunes

Article: Homeschooling Growing in Numbers

Number of homeschoolers growing: http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/06/07/Report-Growth-in-Homeschooling-Outpacing-Public-Schools

NYT article: Who's Minding the Schools?

Who's minding them indeed...

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/09/opinion/sunday/the-common-core-whos-minding-the-schools.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Bill Gates....Education Reformist? More Like Opportunist!

Notes to go along with Bill Gates speech. Basically, where we steals your children's education.

Bill Gates NCSL 072109 by PEACCSadmin

Louisiana BESE Board Meeting April 17, 2013

Louisiana, look at what your board members are saying. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9zQXbdfuD4&feature=player_embedded

 

PDFs To View

CCTC Standards (career paths)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/141768788/CCTC-Standards-Formatted-Nov52012

Data Stewardship, information on Data Mining

NCES-Data Stewardship Document - 2011602

More information on data collection: http://www.ccsso.org/What_We_Do/Education_Data_and_Information_Systems.html NCES Standards Comparison Report

NCES StandardsComparisonReport v1p2

Images and Photos

Know Thy Enemy...Pro-Common Core Resources and Other Secrets

***We are aware some of these links are dead. It is because the original source has figured out that we are sharing this information and they either change the PDF's or make them dead. We are working to get things up and available in screenshot or PDF form as we can.***

NEA Common Core State Standards Toolkit. Click Here.

New York State High School Reading List. Click Here.

Data Collected on School Staff: Click Here.

Promoting Grit, Tenacity, and Perseverance: Click Here

Core Website: www.corestandards.org

Data Collected on Students: Click Here

Common Core Stimulus Bill: Click Here

FERPA Changes: Click Here

Timeline of InBloom Implementation: Click Here


**This list is always growing and changing. If you see any bad links or have anything to add please email admin@peaccs.com**

National CCSS Flyer

Please save, print and share!

Available here, after the jump.

~~Amy

The Heartbreak of High Stakes Testing

{Image via Zane Education}

This week the new ELA assessments are being administered in New York.  After two days the comments are pouring in, and they are heartwrenching and infuriating.  

(The following comments were excerpted from this article http://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2013/04/looking-for-feedback-on-this-years-ela.html)

A teacher offers insight on the physical stress of the students during the exams.

"I am a middle school teacher and proctored the 6th and 8th grade exams over these past 3 days. I have never seen so many children become physically ill, asthma attacks, full panic attacks, vomiting during the exam and generalized anxiety throughout the exams. Many children had to be removed from the classroom sent to the nurse or sent home."

And the same view from a parent's perspective.

"seeing my little girl not able to pull herself emotionally together, after leaving the test room has my blood boiling! She's a child that doesn't really struggle with academics but the way these exams are given and written are very stressful for even the average child. I can't imagine how it is for the children who are more challenged by academics. I really dread next weeks math exams. Math seems to frustrate her and I am scared it will actually make her sick."


Apparently the assessments' multiple choice questions were confusing and students were unsure of the correct answers.

"I am a third grade teacher in NY and I have administered these tests since they started giving them to third graders, about ten years ago. I have never seen anything like this. Usually the bubble sheets look pretty uniform when I stack them up and alphabetize them to hand in. 

There were no patterns to the bubbles on Tuesday - everyone's sheet looked different. Reading over the test, I could not figure out the correct answer to several questions. I am quite sure I would not score well on this test. Many questions seemed to have two good answers, and I had a hard time figuring out which was better. The questions are dry, often asking students to compare paragraphs."

A parent's perspective on the ambiguity of the assessments.

 "My 8th grader made Stuy and Townsend yet the test yesterday was unfair because on almost every question there were two sensible answers leaving the "best" response a subjective decision in the hands of Pearson. Who can ever epic heck them when the tests are secured for destruction afterwards and no one can ever see the questions and answer keys? Every multiple choice question is graphed on a spreadsheet and given a proficiency rating where a correct anger isn't necessarily a "4", it could be fit, but not right enough, so the student doesn't get full credit. In real life this doesn't happen. If we are preparing them for college and job readiness, then Pearson needs to spend some more time in the workplace!"

Again more vague test questions and inadequate time to finish the exam.

"8th grader going to Stuy in the fall felt awful because didn't finish the essay. Said the multiple choice questions frequently had two possible answers. ELA teacher went over the questions in class discussion and in many cases agreed that there were two equally valid answers. 

Honestly, this test makes me love the SHSAT, which at least is adequately field-tested. (And no, the kid didn't prep for years for the SHSAT.) 

What does this state-sanctioned child abuse say about us as a society?"

"No learning is taking place on the testing days."

"Proctored fifth grade test for students who got time-and-a-half. Half of the students used more than the regular time, which I have never seen before. Directions were confusing and wordy, and the need for two books for Day 2 was confusing. Today proctoring took 3 hours; spending 2 hrs 15 minutes each day. The amount of focus required is causing students to lose it afterward -- lots of injuries in the schoolyard at recess as kids try to get all their energy out. Serious ones, too - stitches, etc. The stress level among kids and adults in the building is incredible -- we all just sit afterward. No learning is taking place on the testing days."

One educator hits the nail on the head.

"A few observations from the trenches:

1. Had to look at a most intelligent reader and writer in the eye and tell him he had no more time to write. After 90 minutes of working so hard there was no time left to write the essay -- worth the bulk of the points. Will this "poor performance" indicate my poor teaching and/or his poor learning?

2. Pearson, the writer of the test, used content from its very own basal reader series that it sells to districts on one of the exams this year. This places purchasers of its series at an advantage. If students were familiar with that content before the test (as many were), we do not have all students starting at the same point. Is this measuring reading comprehension or prior knowledge? Or a district's ability to buy textbooks?

3. Last, an essay asked students, at the conclusion of reading two pieces, to write about "the story" without naming it. Kids had to go back and see subtle nuances in the introductions to determine which piece they had to discuss. Several students became angry that a question would be written in this manner. They felt defeated before they began.

This is not about stress and anxiety as much as this is about parents and teachers doing right by our kids. Tests should be fair. The writers of the test should not be using materials from their products on tests in order to serve as incentives for districts to buy their products. 

So happy my own children are not participating in this game."

Lastly, a scathing comment written by a teacher who is fed up with the assessments that are designed to make the children fail.

"To Education Commissioner John King and the Board of Regents:

Ok. I have to say it bluntly. Your hubris, MT JK and Co., will be your downfall.

Do not kid yourself. I proctored this exam and it was unfair. I feel as though the test was designed for the children to fail. I know I am right because you have admitted it in memos to us, the teachers, in saying that our APPR will not be damaged this year by falling test scores. 

So, you know the tests were designed for children to fail. YES, I said CHILDREN. 

Do not fool yourselves. This was not rigor. This was impossibility. The thorough readers who employed the tactics you paid for Expeditionary Learning to push down our throats (for free!) did not work on this exam. It was LITERALLY (yes, I know what it means) impossible for a grade-level reader (130 wpm or so) to read the passages and answer the questions.

In my class, the BEST readers did the fewest questions because the attacked they test with diligence. Diligence that handcuffed them and is forcing their failure.

SHAME ON YOU, STATE ED! SHAME!

Stop the lies. This is not Common Core. This is YOU, MT JK and State ED, declaring WAR on the children, families, and teachers of our great state! Worst of all? You admit it! You put it in writing. 

Perhaps I am wrong. Perhaps it is Pearson who has blinded you with their wealth and chicanery. Maybe you didn't even see the test or take it yourself. 

We know Pearson reviles engageny because it is free and cuts their profits. Maybe it is not you, but they who have prevailed with your heads being lobbed off. 

In any case, come down off the ivory tower. Your misguided, misconstrued and ill-willed attempts at educational reform will go down in the history books as a DEBACLE."

There are numerous other comments and I am sure that more will be added as the assessments continue.  We have to stop this insanity. Yes, insanity.  

Since when did a test score matter more than anything else? 

My child is more than a number.  So is yours.  My child has hopes, dreams and desires.  Those of which cannot be measured on a test.  Most which are not considered "necessary" for success. But is it success to grind away the very qualities that make our children who they are?

Our future encompasses more than a tiny bubble on a test.

Urge Your Senator to Support Grassley's Request to Halt Funding for Common Core

You can view the full request letter at Truth in American Education.  Please call or email your senators and urge them to support Grassley in his efforts.  Common Core is a dangerous federal overreach into American education and needs to be stopped!

Freedom Friday Vol. 1

*Edited to add:  Oh my, I have been up too many late nights reading about Common Core!  I apologize, I thought today was Friday!*

The purpose of Freedom Fridays is to give the public a voice about Common Core.  Every other Friday I will post a letter that you can send to your senators, representatives, school board members, etc.  I believe that the reason that most people don't speak up is because they don't know what to say or how to convey their feelings about it.  Freedom Fridays will give you that voice!

Please stop back when you receive responses to your letters.  I would love to hear them!

United we stand,
Jennifer

FREEDOM FRIDAY-- VOLUME ONE

Dear Senator:

In this letter I wish to address the cost of implementing Common Core Standards in our state.

I guess I should start with the main question first: What is Common Core?

Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSI) is a privately funded, federally pushed reformation of public education, and education in general.  The name is a bit misleading because the public of America via state legislation did not get to vote on Common Core.  (But that is a topic for another letter.)   These standards are purported to be ‘rigorous’ and ‘prepare children for college and career readiness.’  What could be better than the academic improvement of our floundering schools?  However, with CCSI comes a hefty price tag:

• ·         Over a seven year period, costs are projected at $15.8 billion across participating states for Common Core’s implementation.
• ·         Additional expenses to implementation are: $1.2 billion for the new assessments, $5.3 billion for professional development, $2.5 billion for textbooks and instructional materials, and $6.9 billion for technology infrastructure and support.
• ·         Annual operations costs are estimated at $801,493,256.
• ·         “We project that the annual cost of assessment for states participating in the consortia will increase by a total of $177.2 million each year.  These are not one-time costs (which are covered by the federal grants to the consortia), but ongoing operational costs that will be faced each year.”
• ·         Professional development cost examples per state:  California-- $2,000 per teacher, Washington -- $3,087 per teacher, Texas (which since the writing of this report has rejected CCSI)-- $1,681 per teacher.
• ·         “We project that states adopting Common Core will need to spend approximately $2.47 billion in one-time costs to obtain aligned English language arts and mathematics instructional materials.”

{All figures and quotes were excerpted from “National Cost of Aligning States and Localities to the Common Core Standards” Vol. No. 82, Feb. 2012, published by the Pioneer Institute Public Policy Research}

My question, as a taxpayer, is this:  Where is all this extra money going to come from?  The initial start-up costs will be covered by the grants so generously provided by the Obama Administration, but after that where will ongoing funding come from?  Our school districts are already struggling to meet fiscal goals and many have had to utilize “budget cut days” to stay in the black.  How can we possibly afford to implement a bloated program such as Common Core on our meager state revenue?

Please stop the implementation of Common Core in our state.  We simply can’t afford it.

Common Core Costs

If money talks then we had better listen!

(Some money points taken from the "National Cost of Aligning States and Localities to Common Core" Vol. No. 82, February 2012)

"Over a typical standards time horizon of seven (7) years, we project Common Core implementation costs will total approximately $15.8 billion across participating states."

These cost projections over seven years do not include:

• $1.2 billion for the new assessments
• $5.3 for professional development (i.e teacher training)
• $2.5 billion for textbooks and instructional material
• $6.9 billion for technology infrastructure and support

"We project that the annual cost of assessment for states participating in the consortia (PARCC and SBAC) will INCREASE by a total of $177.2 million PER YEAR."

Estimated professional development costs:

• California  $2,000 per teacher
• Washington $3,087 per teacher
• Texas $1,681 (Texas has rejected Common Core since the writing of these figures)

"We project that states adopting Common Core will need to spend approximately $2.47 billion in one time costs to obtain aligned English language arts and mathematics instructional materials."

"Implementing the SBAC consortium assessments aligned to the Common Core standards would increase California's state testing costs by approximately $10 per student annually, or $35 million each year.  Over seven years, the increase would total $245 million."

Where is all this money going to come from?  

Us, the taxpayers.  You can be sure your property taxes will increase along with the Common Core expenses.

"In light of these substantial costs, California would benefit from a broader and more vigorous public debate on the topic of adopting the Common Core standards.  At a time of extended financial hardship for many local schools, would time and money spent realigning to the Common Core standards constitute the most promising strategy for improving education and increasing student outcomes?"  {page 25 of National Cost of Aligning States and Localities to Common Core Standards}

Money talked and no one listened.

Killing the Kraken of Common Core

[Source]

Common Core is a many-tentacled beast.  Just when you think you have one part of it nailed down, another surfaces.  Considering its aggressive nature and rapid assimilation of our nation, it is easy to let our efforts get drowned in an emotional reaction, rather than a calculated response. This monster that menaces our children's future can be stopped.

Our efforts must be offensive as well as defensive.

First, we must educate ourselves on our enemy.

What is Common Core?

Along with that, we need to find people in our state that are already fighting Common Core.  Join your fellow patriots in contending for educational freedom and localized authority over our schools.

The most crucial offensive measure is informing our family, friends, neighbors and community.  As one of the moms against Common Core said (forgive me, I cannot remember which one said it): "Silence isn't acceptance.  Silence is ignorance."  
For ignorance to be fought there has to be knowledge imparted.  And the only way that will occur is if you and I choose to warn those around us.  This is not a partisan or religious issue.  All of our children will be affected by these new standards and the implementation of them.

Print out some  Stop Common Core flyers and hand them out to help enlighten people on the dangers of Common Core.

Write to your local school board members, Director of the Board of Education, and your state representatives.  We have to get legislation passed in our states to reject Common Core.

Lastly, stay informed.  It was lack of oversight by the public that allowed our government to get this far.  We must be aware of what our opponents are formulating next.

Common Core has grown to gigantic proportions, but just as the Kraken of old, it can be defeated.  We must face the beast and resist its advancements across our nation.  With every tentacle we sever, we wrestle freedom from its grasp and gain hope for our children's future.

The Rigor Mortis of Education

While reading through countless government documents regarding Common Core, I kept running into the same word, over and over.  Like a broken record, the Common Core proponents and professionals worked it into their "pro-Core-paganda."

Rigor.  

And always in the context of 'the standards and curriculum are rigorous' or designed to produce 'rigor' in the students' assimilation of knowledge.

Rigor is not a term that we commoners hear too often; and so I looked it up to be sure I understood what they, the professional educators, meant.  Rigor, in the academic context, is defined as: "scrupulous or inflexible accuracy or adherence."  (www.dictionary.com).  Is that what we want our children's education defined as?  Inflexible? Rigidly compliant?

Children were not designed to be under the microscope, studied like bacteria in a petri dish.  Children are unique individuals with desires and dreams.  We, as parents, teach our children "Reach for your dreams. Work hard. Be the best you, that you can be."  But soon our schools will be teaching them, "Your dreams are irrelevant.  Just do the work.  Be what we want you to be."

The system of education is changing and creativity is quickly becoming obsolete.  Our children will no longer dream of becoming firemen, doctors, teachers, business owners, or whatever sparks their interest; no, instead our schools will parrot the government's needs to them.  Is our nation lacking in blue-collar workers, no problem, we will simply program the next batch of kids for those career opportunities.  Common Core, in partnership with the P20 Council, will ensure that our nation, even our 'global community', has no want of 'human resources'.

An education is a living thing that grows and evolves along with the individual.  It has to remain flexible for any learning to occur.  Common Core will paralyze our children's ability to think for themselves. It will stunt their intellectual capacity so that the only thing they will be capable of is regurgitating the rhetoric taught to them.

Common Core, fellow parents and educators, is the death knell of childhood and education as we know it.   

I, for one, refuse to let this government sign my children's educational death warrant.  We have to be persistent and demand that our elected officials take the pen out of Uncle Sam's hands, before it's too late.

"Top 10 Scariest People in Education Reform" by Christel Swasey

Get to know who is influencing your child's education and future!

#10: Michelle Rhee

#9: David Coleman

#8: Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education 

#7: Sir Michael Barber, CEA Pearson

#6: Linda Darling-Hammond

Common Core Exposed

What is Common Core?  Why should I be concerned?  If you are asking these questions, then please take a look at the resources below.  These are excellent and informative videos and blog posts regarding Common Core and its dangers.

Stop Common Core 5 Part Video Series

Common Core Facts

Rotten to the Core series