tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59509778058148806242024-02-19T23:36:30.769-08:00Graham County Against Common CoreWhat is Common Core? - Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI) is a set of National K-12 standards developed primarily by a nonprofit called Achieve, Inc., in Washington, D.C.
These Common Core Standards were developed without state legislative authority. They have not been tested and will cost us millions of dollars. Thirteen states are in the appeals process, it is my goal that Arizona appeals as well..http://www.blogger.com/profile/09851434546993830634noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5950977805814880624.post-75592717142313585832013-04-23T10:42:00.004-07:002013-04-29T21:14:09.190-07:00Public Meeting on Common Core Safford AZ<br />
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Wingdings 2";"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">PUBLIC MEETING</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">LEARN ABOUT COMMON CORE</span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Thursday May 2nd @ 7:00 p.m.</span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">At the Graham County General Services Building</span></u></b></div>
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<b>921 Thatcher Boulevard, Safford, AZ</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Presenters will be Celinda Palmer and Jennifer Reynolds</span></div>
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For more information, call 348-7635</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04806576598532620617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5950977805814880624.post-29489193719430819712013-04-17T13:36:00.003-07:002013-04-17T13:37:41.915-07:00If I could add to the newspaper article...I have never aspired to be on the front page of the local newspaper and was so nervous when I realized David Bell was there to photograph and write an article about what I had to say last Friday night. So as I ate lunch with friends today and got up to pay my bill and could hear others "talking" about what was in the paper, my heart fluttered a bit more in anxiety about what is being said. So, please do your own research and ask questions about what common core. I would love to hear your opinions.<br />
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David did a great job writing the article, but if I could add to what he said this is what I would say:<br />
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When you take federal dollars, in this instance for common core, you are in a way indenturing yourself to the source of the money. We are taking this money for an UNPROVEN, UNTESTED curriculum where in the case of social studies and science standards are yet to be completed, where NO fiscal analysis has been done. I would ask, do we ever get enough money for education? Ask a teacher the last time they had a significant pay raise. Have your taxes increased recently due to an education need?<br />
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Another concern with common core is the p-20 data collection system. The<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"> nonprofit organization called Achieve Inc, in
Washington D.C. is the main driving force behind creating the Common Core
Initiative. (</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">The Common Core standards
were initiated by private interests</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> in Washington, D.C.) </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">From the Achieve Inc. website it states that
full implementation of the Common Core will include <u><b>P-20 data collection</b></u> or Statewide
longitudinal </span><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Data System (SLDS). Schools will collect data and report to the
AZED. <u>This student data is then shared
with other states <i>and </i>the federal<i> </i>government.</u> These systems are being developed to track
our students from preschool through college.
So what will be tracked? From the
SLDS website this is what will be tracked: “a unique identifier for each
student; student enrollment history; tracks if a student drops out or switches
school; tracks student test scores; matches student performance to teachers;
tracks transcripts of “remedial”
classes; tracks student data to determine if they are “prepared to success in
college”, and a “character” report card. The Achieve Inc. website explains that this
information will benefit a “<i>wide array of
stakeholders</i>”. Achieve also states
on their website that “While the Common Core Standards are a critical <i>first </i>step, t<u>hey alone will not bring
about the instructional changes </u>necessary to improve student achievement and
attainment. I feel that this violates the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
In fact it is suggested that this law will need to be reformed through
legislation to make it legal for schools to collect and distribute this
information.</span><br />
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">The Arizona State Board of Education
adopted Common Core on June 28, 2010 in the failed attempt to acquire
Race-to-the-Top funding. Arizona was
“hooked” into the Common Core movement with Race-to-the-Top grants they applied
for in 2009-2010 and with that application, they were allowed to apply for
“No-Child-Left-Behind Waivers” if they adopted the Common Core Standards
verbatim!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> THE FINANCIAL BREAKDOWN</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">Substitute
Teachers</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"> — Schools have to send teachers to be a part of the
curriculum mapping process for Common Core Standards. These trainings will be
over multiple days which will take teachers out of the classroom . . . There is
a cost to have a substitute teacher in the classroom for multiple days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">New
Textbooks</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"> — Textbooks are outrageously expensive . . . even
if we do find internet options, the publishers who created those options are
certainly not offering them for free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">The
Cost of Time</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"> — Teachers spend a great deal of time
trying to educate themselves on the changes from their old standards to those
of the Common Core . . . The cost of time is a big reality for schools.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">Training
Teachers</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"> — Bringing in outside experts or consultants is
very expensive. In order to properly train teachers, school districts must
offer professional development in order to ensure that educators can master the
Common Core Standards. These trainings are not a one-shot deal and will cost
school districts money. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><b>NEW TECHNOLOGY - </b>All of the testing for the PARCC test (will repalce AIMS) will be done online</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">For more information on the financial burden visit: </span></span><a href="http://educationviews.org/states-taxpayers-cannot-afford-common-core-standards/">http://educationviews.org/states-taxpayers-cannot-afford-common-core-standards/</a></div>
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<u><b>There will be a meeting open to the public on May 2nd, 2013 at 7 pm at the Graham County General Services building. There will be two experts on common core there that night who will be able to answer many more questions than I, including that of bills being written, what is happening in the state sentate and legislature regarding common core. Please come and be involved!</b> </u></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04806576598532620617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5950977805814880624.post-49381899214300294482013-04-15T11:56:00.001-07:002013-04-15T11:56:35.364-07:00Common Core Action ItemsCheck out the website www.arizonansagainstcommoncore.com They have a really great facts vs myths about common core complete with references. This action list is from their site! Really good information about how you can help make a difference.<br />
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Common Core Action Items<br />
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Signup to be a member of “Arizonans against Common Core” so you can receive updates on bills at the Capitol and action items- Contact AZSchoolChoice@cox.net.<br />
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Contact your Senator and Representatives in your Legislative District (1-30) and demand they stop funding the AZ Department of Education!<br />
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Suggest that they set up a study committee to determine what steps need to be taken to exit Common Core.<br />
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Watch video hearings on bills implementing Common Core and submit your public comments through Arizona Legislative Information Service (ALIS). Sign up for an ALIS account in the AZ House or Senate Kiosks on the first floor! Then you can track and comment on bills from home (http://alistrack.azleg.gov/rts/login.asp).<br />
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Contact the AZ Department of Education (AZED)- Superintendent of Public Instruction, John Huppenthal and demand he exits us from the Common Core Standards- adeinbox@azed.gov or 602-542-5460.<br />
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Submit the “Common Core Opt Out” Form to the AZED and to your local school district.<br />
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Attend local school board meetings and educate them on why we need to exit Common Core. Meet personally with School Board members and educate them on the “Arizonans Against Common Core” Myths vs. Facts about Common Core.<br />
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Be active in the school district closest to you that is being funded by your property taxes. Demand that they stop teaching Common Core!<br />
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Talk to your friends and neighbors about Common Core- this affects all of our children, grandchildren, college students, etc.<br />
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Sign our “Petition of Redress” to exit Common Core.<br />
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If you would like to sign the Graham County petition email us at grahamcountyagainstcommoncore@yahoo.com and we will get with you!<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04806576598532620617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5950977805814880624.post-60377183164346151312013-04-14T13:35:00.002-07:002013-04-14T13:35:27.210-07:0018th Century Advice: Thomas Jefferson on Education Reform<br />
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It will only take a minute to read this article on public education reform. <br />
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<a href="http://blog.heritage.org/2013/04/14/18th-century-advice-thomas-jefferson-on-education-reform/">http://blog.heritage.org/2013/04/14/18th-century-advice-thomas-jefferson-on-education-reform/</a><br />
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Thanks and don't forget to contact our Representatives and tell them how you feel about common core!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04806576598532620617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5950977805814880624.post-57238845988270180512013-04-11T21:37:00.001-07:002013-04-12T08:28:36.934-07:00Contact our Legislature!Take some time to view the information in the blog post below and then act on how you feel about it! Let's flood their inbox with our concerns and get Arizona in the appeals process for Common Core! When you write to them have some specific questions and request that they reply! They work for you! If you don't hear from them please let us know or write a letter to the editor for the newspaper.<br />
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<a href="http://www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster.asp?Body=S">http://www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster.asp?Body=S</a><br />
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For our district 14 -<br />
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Gail Griffin -<br />
email: ggriffin@azleg.gov<br />
phn: 602-926-5895<br />
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David Gowan -<br />
email: dgowan@azleg.gov<br />
phn: 602-926-3312<br />
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David Stevens<br />
email: dstevens@azleg.gov<br />
phn: 602-926-4321<br />
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Andy Tobin - Speaker of the House<br />
email: atobin@azleg.gov<br />
phn: 602-926-5172<br />
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Andy Biggs - Senate President<br />
email: abiggs@azleg.gov<br />
phn: 602-926-4371<br />
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Tom Horne – Attorney General (no email provided)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Phoenix Office<o:p></o:p></div>
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1275 West Washington Street<o:p></o:p></div>
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Phoenix, AZ 85007-2926<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ph: (602) 542-5025 <o:p></o:p></div>
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Fax (602) 542-4085<o:p></o:p><br />
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John Huppenthal - State Superintendent of Schools<br />
email: <span style="background-color: #eaeaea; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><a href="mailto:adeinbox@azed.gov" style="background-color: #eaeaea; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; outline: none;">adeinbox@azed.gov</a><br />
Ph: 602-926-5261<br />
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Senator John McCain – via the web - http://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.contactform<o:p></o:p></div>
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Senator Jeff Flake - via the web - <a href="http://www.flake.senate.gov/contact.cfm">http://www.flake.senate.gov/contact.cfm</a><br />
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<b>Craig Barrett – </b>Member
of Achieve Inc. Helping create Common
Core, Arizona Ready Ed. Council<o:p></o:p></div>
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Arizona Ready Education Council <o:p></o:p></div>
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5000 W. Chandler Blvd. Mailstop CH7-300 <o:p></o:p></div>
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Chandler, AZ 85226<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.796875px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Governor Brewer -</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">The Honorable Janice K. Brewer</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Arizona Governor</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Executive Tower</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">1700 West Washington Street</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Phoenix, AZ 85007</span></div>
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Some questions to consider when thinking about Common Core</div>
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1) When did our
legislators who represent us vote to introduce Common Core into our
school? (The answer is: They didn’t.
So, who did? Why didn’t parents
have a voice or a choice in this issue?)<o:p></o:p></div>
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2) Were the
Common Core standards pilot tested anywhere?<o:p></o:p></div>
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3) As a parent,
do I have the authority to Opt my child Out of Common Core?<o:p></o:p></div>
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4) Has PARCC been developed yet? How will it be better than AIMS?<o:p></o:p></div>
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5) Please show me
the Math book, course outline, and sample math problems (for my child).<o:p></o:p></div>
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6) Please provide
ALL reading selections for my child.<o:p></o:p></div>
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7) When will the Science curriculum be
available? Who is developing it?<o:p></o:p></div>
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8) When will the Social Studies curriculum be
available? Who is developing it?<o:p></o:p></div>
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9) <b><u>HOW MUCH WILL THIS COST US?</u></b><o:p></o:p><br />
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<b>If you would like to help us spread the word on a local level please contact us at grahamcountyagainstcommoncore@yahoo.com</b></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04806576598532620617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5950977805814880624.post-40801486841610312062013-04-11T21:03:00.000-07:002013-04-17T16:56:19.475-07:00Links for more information about common coreStay in tune for upcomming public meetings to inform and discuss the impact of Common Core.<br />
In the mean time, please visit these links for furthur information.<br />
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<a href="http://arizonansagainstcommoncore.com/">http://arizonansagainstcommoncore.com/</a><br />
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<a href="http://gilbertwatch.com/">http://gilbertwatch.com/</a><br />
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<a href="http://truthinamericaneducation.com/">http://truthinamericaneducation.com/</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.keepeducationlocal.com/claims-vs.-facts.html">http://www.keepeducationlocal.com/claims-vs.-facts.html</a><br />
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For questions, comments, or to help the cause please contact us at <a href="mailto:grahamcountyagainstcommoncore@yahoo.com">grahamcountyagainstcommoncore@yahoo.com</a>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09851434546993830634noreply@blogger.com0