From Jack Hoogendyk Time to call your lawmaker TODAY! As reported recently in MIRS, Republican leadership is beginning to do the the right thing, pushing back on the Michigan Department of Ed, on the Common Core Assessment. But, as reported recently in Gongwer, other vendors smell blood in the water and they are trying to get their company-owned solution named instead. Now is the time for us to speak. Our legislators need to not just push back, they need to stand up! Michigan must have total control over the state-wide assessment. We must control the destiny of education for Michigan children. We cannot trust outsiders who have their own agenda, be it educational politics or just money. Bottom line, we want assessments that are not aligned to the Common Core, because, as our legislators acknowledged in HCR 0011, Common Core does inappropriate things we do not want. So what do we tell legislators? Tell them we want: Statewide assessments owned, developed and controlled by Michigan - not assessments written and controlled by consortiums or private companies Statewide assessments that can be administered by paper and pencil - not assessments that require every district to invest in more computer technology Statewide assessments that test developmentally appropriate knowledge - not assessments that drive specific teaching techniques, encourage political bias or interpret student values and behaviors Statewide assessments that gather student level data for use by teachers and parents and share only aggregate data beyond the school level - not assessments that share individual student data with outside entities. We will keep you posted if specific legislation is developed. Contact YOUR state rep. as soon as you can, whether Democrat or Republican. Teachers are very nervous about these assessments, but many feel at risk to speak out. Thank you for all you do in support of Excellent Education! Regards, Jack Hoogendyk
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 16:40:20 +0000
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