Dr. Sandra Stotsky’s new book, An Empty Curriculum, discusses the trouble that has arisen from weak teacher licensing expectations, easy teacher tests, and the recruiting of teacher candidates from the lowest third of graduating classes. She points to South Korea, Finland, and Singapore which recruit teachers from the top third of their classes; America does […]

Before I post Dr. Sandra Stotsky’s most recent testimony, I will tell you why I am a devoted fan of Dr. Stotsky and why I’m a tomato-thrower at the Common Core version of English Language Arts. Despite its charming claims, Common Core deforms –not reforms– the English classroom. Common Core stifles the joy of learning […]

Why Do Common Core’s Supporters Try to Discredit Critics of Common Core’s Mathematics Standards? by Dr. Sandra Stotsky   Professor R. James Milgram, for over 40 years a full professor of mathematics at Stanford University, and I did a 13-city speaking tour on Common Core throughout California in November. At all of the meetings, Professor Milgram […]

DR. TERRENCE MOORE This week “Grassroots Radio Colorado” hosted two lively, informative Common Core debates. The podcasts are available by clicking here. Hour one features History Professor Terrence Moore of Hillsdale College (opposed to Common Core) versus former school board member Laura Boggs (pro Common Core). Highlights from hour one: At minute 10:45 Laura Moore […]

On Monday, at the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Sandra Stotsky will present a white paper about Common Core’s validation committee at a conference entitled “The Changing Role of Education in America: Consequences of the Common Core.” It is posted below. A few of powerful points from Dr. Stotsky’s paper: 1. “One aspect of the […]

Dr. Sandra Stotsky published an opinion editorial in today’s Deseret News, and has also been interviewed by Rod Arquette on his radio show at KNRS today, for this afternoon’s program. Sandra Stotsky is a lump of gold in a pile of pyrite. She’s one of the strongest voices in America, saying that we must study […]

Before Common Core began its disfiguration of the best in American education, Massachusetts had the highest standards in the nation.  Massachusetts’ students scored best in 2005, in 2007, in 2009 and in 2011 –in all four major NAEP categories.  Massachusetts senselessly dropped its high standards in order to apply for the Race to the Top. Professor Sandra Stotsky  was the […]

Remember Sandra Stotsky?  She’s the brilliant Arkansas professor with the courage to stand up and say no to the common core standards, when she served on the official Common Core Validation Committee and she realized they were not, in fact, going to prepare children legitimately for college.  She is also the wonderful woman who offered […]

Dear School Board, Superintendent Shumway and Governor Herbert, I am writing to express my gratitude to those who were instrumental in yesterday’s vote to reverse Utah’s membership in the SBAC testing consortium.  It was a heroic moment and America is watching. Early on, when I read the Cooperative Agreement between the SBAC and the Department of Education, I was […]

Guest post by Dr. Sandra Stotsky, published with permission from the author; article was originally published July 8, 2016 at New Boston Post.   Last week, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts stopped voters from weighing in on a citizen-backed initiative to repeal Common Core. In her opinion, Chief Justice Margot Botsford blocked on a […]

             by Dr. Sandra Stotsky Not by using Common Core-based standards and tests, for sure, or anything that looks like them.  As anyone can see, the English language arts and mathematics standards dumped by the Governor Patrick-appointed Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in July 2010 are nothing like Common Core’s […]

In September, Concerned Citizens of Southern New Jersey  held a symposium entitled “No More Common Core,” featuring: Dr. Sandra Stotsky, emeritus professor and member of the original Common Core validation committee Dr. Christopher Tienken, professor at Seton Hall University Dr. Duke Pesta of Freedom Project Education Dr. Tom Borelli, a molecular biologist Deneen Borelli of FreedomWorks […]

The Dying of the Light: How Common Core Damages Poetry Instruction   Published by Pioneer Institute,  a new white paper entitled, “The Dying of the Light: How Common Core Damages Poetry Instruction” — which you can read here— begins by asking whether poetry has a future in the face of Common Core: “The fate of poetry in […]

Hear Dr. Sandra Stotsky and Dr. James Milgram explain to interviewer Ann Marie Banfield why they each refused to sign off on the academic legitimacy of the Common Core standards, when they served as official Common Core validation committee members. Intro is about five minutes; Dr. Stotsky begins to speak at about minute 5:00.

Dr. Sandra Stotsky’s opinion editorial with Maureen Downey in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is just plain important. It’s published in this week’s AJC: SHOULD AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOLS PREPARE ANY STUDENTS FOR STEM? COMMON CORE DOESN’T THINK SO. By Sandra Stotsky When states adopted Common Core’s mathematics standards, they were told (among other things) that these standards […]

Dr. Sandra Stotsky, one of the famous Common Core validation committee members who refused to sign off on the legitimacy of Common Core, is alarmed that N.H. legislators are being sold a false line by Mark Tucker about Common Core. She points out, among other things, that the Gates Foundation has “given millions to help […]

Is it logical to say that writing and literature will be effectively taught by all subject teachers?  All teachers do not have adequate training in grammatical, literary and editing background teach writing and literature.  But our Utah State Office is claiming that this will be the case.  A letter, seen below, from Tiffany Hall of the Utah State Office of Education, will serve […]

Nationwide Coalition letter linked at Florida’s Stop Common Core Coalition here.   January 9, 2017 Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee 428 Senate Dirksen Office Building, Washington, DC 20510   Dear Chairman Alexander, Ranking Member Murray, and Members of the Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions Committee,   We, the undersigned leaders of a nationwide coalition […]

I agree with Joy Pullman: “I shouldn’t have to give a flying fig about whom Donald Trump picks for this position.” But we care, and the figs are flying, because there’s so much power unconstitutionally wielded by the executive branch over local education. Although Trump did say in a campaign interview that he wanted to eliminate the Department […]

Guest post by Dr. Sandra Stotsky This week, the New Boston Post published this article by Dr. Sandra Stotsky, which is republished here with the author’s permission. Dr. Sandra Stotsky The efforts by the Gates Foundation to manipulate our major institutions lie at a very deep level in order to remain difficult to detect. Its efforts have […]

      Action time. This video, which comes from parents in Massachusetts and Dr. Sandra Stotsky, is important. Its message is: Please call 202-224-3121 –the number to call all senators in Washington, D.C.  Ask that your senators stop the reauthorization of ESEA also known as No Child Left Behind.  Passing this bill violates civil procedure.  Ask to […]

In the photo:  Jan Lenox, Lynne Shirk, Deb Yoa and Michelle Mellon, four unstoppable grandmothers of New Jersey who spearhead a group called Concerned Citizens of Southern New Jersey Jan Lenox wrote a letter that was published this week at the Cape May County Herald in New Jersey.   To the Editor: Concerned Citizens of […]

I feel as if Secretary Duncan and President Obama run education in Utah without any legislative or USOE opposition at all, ever. Whatever is suggested on the education pages of Whitehouse.gov, by its federal education branches or by its corporate partners, ends up in Utah as a law, presented to the masses as if it were Utah’s idea. Tonight: guess […]

No Common Core Maine‘s 2014 fall symposium about Common Core is filmed and archived on YouTube. Friends have been emailing me clips, raving about this symposium, and I’m posting it before I’ve had a chance to watch very much of it. One friend, who is a district school board member in Utah, wrote this about […]

From Alaska with love. Here’s a video that I hadn’t seen before, made last spring as Alaska legislators listened to expert testimony about Common Core.  It’s long, but truly worth the time.  My plan was to listen while I folded laundry but I kept throwing down the laundry to run over and replay a section, […]

Adding to the Breitbart report that many have already have seen is this report by Dr. Sandra Stotsky, who was present during this month’s Common Core promotional visit by Secretary of Education to California.  The U.S. Secretary of Education ignored parent protesters but spoke about his programs for implementing Common Core, including his aim to lengthen the school […]

CALL TO ACTION: UTAHNS, VOICE YOUR CONCERNS! Governor Herbert has asked for feedback on the Common Core Standards.  Send him an overwhelming, undeniable message that the standards are strongly opposed by going to the Governor’s special website to take a Common Core survey.  The survey ends on August 31st, 2014.  Please ADD YOUR VOICE.  Here’s […]

WITH COMMON CORE, STATES FACE PROBLEM  OF WHICH TESTS TO GIVE STUDENTS by DR. SANDRA STOTSKY The burning education issue facing most states at the moment is which tests should they give their K-12 students next year to satisfy the conditions of their waivers from the United States Department of Education (USED) or the commitments they […]

By Sandra Stotsky   The burning education issue facing most states at the moment is which tests should they give their K-12 students next year to satisfy the conditions of their waivers from the United States Department of Education (USED) or the commitments they made in their Race to the Top (RttT) applications, whether or […]

These two excellent letters are written by two Utah dads, Oak Norton and Jared Carman. If you would like to write to the state board, send an email to: board@schools.utah.gov -and if you would like to attend their  meeting and speak during a two minute public comment allowance, email the board with your request. If you would […]

#CANiSEE ™© SOLUTIONS CONFERENCE – COUNTERING COMMON CORE – JUNE 20 – 21, 2014 – AUSTIN, TEXAS   http://www.educationviews.org/canisee-solutions-conference-countering-common-core/   Because the pro-Common Core National PTA planned to have its convention in Austin, Texas, a group of educators and parents decided to hold a counter event. It is called #CANiSEE ™© Solutions Conference and will be held in Austin on June 20 […]

Let’s not call this research!   This is a fact-checking adventure. This adventure begins because of the FAQ statements about Common Core posted at the Provo  School District website.  (See it on their  website or just scroll to the bottom of the page where I’ve pasted it.) This post is not meant to be accusatory or mean.  Provo District and […]

First, here’s a list. It’s a smattering of teachers’ names with links to what they have said or spoken.  Their experience and research make a powerful, nearly unarguable case for stopping corporate-federal Common Core.  They are current teachers, retired teachers, and teachers-turned-professors-or-administrators. Malin Williams, Mercedes Schneider, Christy Hooley, Peter Greene, Susan Kimball, Paul Bogush, Laurie Rogers,  Paul Horton, Gerald […]

Top Ten Scariest People in Education Reform: #3 Marc Tucker, President of National Center on Education and the Economy Countdown # 3 This is the seventh in a countdown series of introductions, a list of the top ten scariest people leading education in America.  For number 4, number 5, number 6, number 7,  number 8,  […]

What Is Common Core?  This post aims to be as unmistakably direct and documented as possible.    Feel free to use it without asking permission. DOES  COMMON CORE PREPARE STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE? Not for a 4-year university.  It minimally prepares students for the non-collegiate workforce or for non-selective community colleges. A key Common Core creator, Jason Zimba, said […]

Utah radio personality Jason Williams of KVNU’s “For the People” has asked the public to submit questions for next week’s Common Core debate, which will take place at Mount Logan Middle School on January 6th, 2014, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in Logan, Utah, at 875 N. 200 E. Submit questions to: jasonthe@gmail.com or kvnuftp@gmail.com. […]

I feel sorry for school guidance counselors. There’s a document out called “Role of the School Counselor in Utah Core” that says: “You [the guidance counselors] are often the first line of defense in honoring the validity of the Utah Core State Standards.” How many school counselors do you think became counselors so that they […]

https://whatiscommoncore.wordpress.com/2013/12/05/common-core-movie-building-the-machine-trailer/ I am impressed by the new Common Core movie trailer (that I shared yesterday) and I do hope it gets a million views. So, today I sent out an email link to the new Common Core documentary movie to many people I thought would be interested in it, both friends and foes: The state […]

Recently America met the remakable Patrick Richardson, a teenager from Arkansas, who blasted through Common Core in power point presentations and speeches to his legislators. Now, meet the eloquent Ethan Young of Tennessee, another brilliant teenager whose five minute, out-of-the-ballpark speech, utterly flattens the many false claims of the Common Core. In this video speech […]

One hundred thirty two Catholic Professors have taken “the extraordinary step” of signing a letter that asks all Catholic Bishops to stand up and firmly oppose Common Core. The letter says that “Sadly, over one hundred Catholic dioceses have set aside our teaching tradition in favor of these secular standards,” and says that “Common Core […]

Subservience to truly stupid ideas —like dumbing down high school math for economic gain— was never meant to be the destiny of the free American people. Yet that is what has happened to American education under Common Core. In the video testimony of Common Core creator Jason Zimba, in recent articles by the American Institutes […]

By Christy Hooley, Wyoming Teacher (Reposted with permission) In the course of a year and a half, I have found myself thrown into the midst of what is one of our nation’s greatest grassroots movements. I could have NEVER imagined those short 18 months ago, what my life currently entails, that my love of being […]

In July (2013) a report was issued (at the request of Georgia Senator William Ligon) that compares Georgia’s pre-Common Core standards to Georgia’s now-adopted Common Core standards. Oh, boy. You can read the full reports at the Senator’s web page, here and you can see the web page of Dr. Mary Kay Bacallao, the Georgia […]

I can hardly wait to quote these ten brilliant American professors who have spoken out to say that the Common Core is far from its claim of representing academic excellence; that it’s a sheer academic tragedy. But before I share the professors’ words, let me tell you what sparked today’s post. I saw for the […]

Reporters from both the Deseret News and ABC Channel 4 t.v. surprised me last week by asking for interviews –on the subject of prayer, which I’d written about a few days earlier. I was really, really surprised to learn that praying is perceived as news. Or, at least, asking people to pray is perceived as […]

An opinion editorial by Glenn Jacobs in today’s Daily Caller says that the Common Core should be renamed the “Lowest Common Denominator.” He suggests that American schools have been scientifically designed to prevent over-education, thus “ensuring workers who will never be tempted to better their stations in life.” What do you think of that? Considering […]

Common Core proponents often say that the Common standards are “internationally benchmarked.” What an appealing concept– except that it’s not true. James Milgram, the mathematician who served on the Common Core validation committee and refused to sign off on the standards, said: “I can tell you that my main objection to Core Standards, and the […]

I received this email announcing an informational conference call. Joy Pullman, Sandra Stotsky and Richard Innes will be the guest speakers. Many of us have watched the video that the Concerned Women’s group produced together with the American Principles Project, about Common Core. (If not, click here.) Here is the CWA invitation: CWA Hosts Nation-Wide […]

This week, concerned parents of the Conejo Valley Unified School District in California held a forum about Common Core. One of the first panelists in the video is Stanford Professor and Hoover Institute researcher Bill Evers, who shares facts, experiences, lively stories and teacher quotes that point out the absurdity of accepting the Common Core, […]

Shine light on Common Core By Donna Colorio Massachusetts Educator As I see it, our country is going through a major educational transformation and I ask myself, “Where are the parents?” In 2010, a D.C.-based nonprofit called Achieve, under the guidance of the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, created […]

USA Today has published an op-ed by Emmett McGroarty. The author quotes Alisa Ellis of Utah and Anne Gassel of Missouri, parents who typify the Mama and Papa bears in opposing Common Core. From Alisa Ellis: “Administrators want parents like me to step back and be quiet, but we will not. These are my children, […]

The following videos are from last Tuesday night’s forum,”Can Common Core Standards Make Massachusetts Students Competitive?” at the Worcester Public Library in Massachusetts. At minute 2:15 on the first video, adjunct professor Donna Colorio says, “The bottom line is that there are serious questions and overwhelming evidence that Massachusetts currently has a higher academic standard […]

Brave New Schools Guest post by California English teacher Cherie Zaslawsky The much touted Common Core Standards (CCS) Initiative that is being pushed as a silver bullet to improve our schools is not simply the latest fad in education: CCS is actually an unprecedented program that would radically alter our entire K-12 educational system, affecting […]

John Merrow’s Investigation of Michelle Rhee. I’m posting this link to Diane Ravitch’s blog. Why? Yesterday, a Utah State School Board Member told me that Michelle Rhee is telling legislators to “reframe the debate” about Common Core– so that instead of it being about local control and the VOICE of the GOVERNED, it’s about being […]

I’m calling for a hogwash alert on today’s National Review article about Common Core. The ironically titled  The Truth About Common Core article cannot be taken seriously.  It’s written without any links or references for its Common Core-promoting claims, and it’s written by two authors whose employers are largely funded by the main funder of all things Common Core. Can anyone take seriously those who […]

Christopher Tienken – Professor at Seton Hall, NJ –  http://vimeo.com/58461595 Jane Robbins – American Principles Project – Stop Common Core video series: http://youtu.be/coRNJluF2O4 Jamie Gass – Pioneer Institute – has been speaking about Common Core for many years; knows why Massachusetts had the best standards in the nation prior to Common Core. http://youtu.be/SBROaOCKN50 Senator Kurt Bahr – […]

David Coleman:  Bye Bye, Classics Countdown # 9 This is the second in a countdown series of introductions, a list of the top ten scariest people leading American education reform.  (#10 on the list is posted here.) David Coleman, lead “architect” for the English Language Arts (ELA) portion of the Common Core, is not an educator, […]

Senator William Ligon of Georgia led a recent press conference to discuss the reasons Georgia will do  “everything in its power to release itself from the commitment of the Common Core and the P.A.R.C.C”. Jane Robbins,  Tish Strange, Sandra Stotsky, Ze’ev Wurman and others also spoke at this press conference.   Senator William Ligon explained more about SB 167 in […]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-rice/common-core-math_b_2781092.html This article needs wide exposure.   Misadventures in Common Core By Mark Rice – reposted from Huffington Post My daughter — a bright, fun-loving 8-year-old who isn’t easily rattled — was reduced to tears in school yesterday. Apparently, while working on a math lesson involving fractions, she wasn’t “getting it” the way that she […]

http://truthinamericaneducation.com/common-core-state-standards/debunking-misconceptions-the-common-core-is-state-led/ Of all the things that the Truth in American Education site has posted, my favorite thing is that title. Truth in American Education.  The title itself teaches a fact most Americans still don’t realize: that there are loads of lies parading as education reform improvements that need exposure via verifiable, well researched facts.  It does not matter if good people with […]

Stop Common Core Talk given by Christel Swasey at the Weber County Republican Women’s Meeting Jan.7, 2013 A few months ago, a University of Utah exhibit displayed original documents, newspapers, books and letters written by Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin and many others. The exhibit did not only show the freedom fighters’ side of the argument, […]

The Utah Legislative Session begins in two weeks. It is short. Please call legislators, state school board members and Governor Herbert and ask for the following: •   UT LEGISLATORS MUST WRITE FREEING LEGISLATION – Utah should reclaim its educational sovereignty by following the lead of states such as Indiana and South Carolina which are attempting to […]

  Bob Schaffer was the man who blew the whistle on Marc Tucker and Hillary Clinton’s plot to take over American education.  Schaffer got their letter recorded in the official Congressional Record years ago.  http://www.eagleforum.org/educate/marc_tucker/ Robert Scott was the very wise Education Commissionar who, together with Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, rejected Common Core for Texas –and […]

For those who still believe Common Core is “rigorous” and good for kids, here is a must-read from Jay Mathews and the Washington Post.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/fiction-vs-nonfiction-smackdown/2012/10/17/cbb333d0-16f0-11e2-a55c-39408fbe6a4b_print.html Fiction vs. nonfiction smackdown By Jay Mathews, Published: October 17 There is no more troubling fact about U.S. education than this: The reading scores of 17-year-olds have shown no significant improvement since 1980. […]

Donna Garner has put together a list of resources for those who are just beginning the fight against the Common Core dissolution of sovereignty over American education.   Thank you, Donna. http://nocompromisepac.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=6457500%3ABlogPost%3A28400 9.25.12 — “Mitt Romney Takes Stand Against Common Core at Education Nation Summit” — http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/2012/09/mitt-romney-common-core-educ… ==================== 9.25.12 — “Romney: No Federal Support for Common Core” […]

    A new white paper, “How Common Core’s ELA Standards Place College Readiness at Risk,” by Emory University English Professor Mark Bauerlein and University of Arkansas Professor Sandra Stotsky, was released this month by Pioneer Institute.  http://pioneerinstitute.org/pdf/120917_CommonCoreELAStandards.pdf What are the highlights of this 44-page white paper? Diminishing of  Literature: College readiness will decrease under Common […]

In a white house press release Obama gave two years ago, we find: “Today, the Obama Administration announced new efforts to promote college- and career-ready standards…  The President and Secretary Duncan applauded Governors for their efforts to work together in a state-led consortium… to develop and implement common reading and math standards that build toward college- and […]

  Is it smart to ignore the mathematical advice of a mathematician so highly regarded that he’s on the NASA advisory council?  Dr. James Milgram, Professor of Math at Stanford University, emeritus, had such serious reservations about the fuzzy math of Common Core (Obama’s educational movement) that Milgram refused to sign off on the standards’ adequacy– […]

   We were watching Paul Ryan’s incredible Republican National Convention speech last night on t.v. when I got a text message that a reporter who was at the convention wanted to talk to me.  Me? I had submitted the idea to “Eliminate Common Core Collective Education” at the GOP website when they were soliciting grassroots […]

http://www.gopplatform2012.com/education/eliminate-common-core-collective-education If many people “second” the idea of eliminating Common Core, the Republican party leaders may choose to add this request as part of the national Republical platform.  That’s why I input my input.  Hope many choose to agree.  The quality of education and the future amendability of our local standards depends on getting out […]

At this link, you can submit ideas for the Republican Party as they update the platform. http://www.gopplatform2012.com/ I submitted the following today, but had to shorten it because they only take a certain number of words.   COMMON CORE IS NOT ACADEMICALLY SOUND It is a fact that the only math professor on the official Common […]

There is still plenty o’confusion in the state of Utah.  Lawmakers are realizing that due to the Utah Constitution’s giving authority to the Board to determine educational issues, they are almost powerless (except to defund Common Core).  The board seems skittish and  embarrassed now that so many of us know the new standards are inferior and […]

   Let’s reason with John Adams.  In 1763, Adams didn’t know  Utah would be facing the decision to reverse adoption of Common Core and reclaim local freedom over education, or not.  But he did know this much: “…[A]s we know that ignorance, vanity, excessive ambition and venality, will, in spite of all human precautions, creep into government, and will […]

There’s a meeting, open to the public, to be held in room 30 in the House Building at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City. This meeting will be important, as heavy hitters will be speaking about Common Core issues:   Dr. Larry Shumway, Utah Superintendent of Schools, John Brandt, Technology Director, and Dr. Judy Park, Associate […]

  We have to get rid of the Common Core Initiative  –if we actually care about quality education and freedom over education. Why? I’ll start with a little intro– why I care: I  hold an up-to-date Utah Level II teaching license and I have nine years of experience in classrooms. I’m currently a stay-home-mother.  My most […]

Dear Senator Lee, I’m writing to give evidence from the Race to the Top application, (under which Utah agreed to adopt Common Core standards) and evidence from the No Child Left Behind waiver that Utah just received from the Dept. of Education, to show states are being essentially forced to choose either NCLB or Common […]

The following links to national news articles and opinion editorials show that Common Core is an increasingly controversial issue– with good reason. The adoption and implementation of Common Core by all but a handful of states has circumvented all voters and legislators, yet it’s a heavy handed program now being imposed on over 90% of […]

Dear Mr. Johansen,   I very much appreciated the answer given to my question last night, that there are no plans to increase funding of Common Core implementation beyond what was already being spent on teacher professional development in Utah’s Core Academies.   This is important to me because I, like you, hope our hard-earned […]

Have you ever played the game “Two truths and a lie”?  Each person gets a turn to say three statements.  Two of them must be true, and one must be false.  The listeners must try to guess which of the three statements is the lie. Sometimes I feel like the Utah State Office of Education […]

Dear Tami Pyfer,   I know you are busy and probably inundated with mail, but unfortunately, I cannot take you off the list of school board members with whom I am communicating as long as you are a valid member of this board.  http://schools.utah.gov/law/Administrative-Rules/ConsolidatedRules-CurrentThrough5-1-12.aspx The Utah Constitution, Article X, Section 3 vests “general control and […]

Dear Kraig, Common Core is about my children ‘s education, and yours.   Fact:  Common core puts Algebra I in 9th grade.  It used to be in 8th grade.   This information was never given to parents in any of the fliers passed out about Common Core by our district or by USOE.  I learned […]

When my 9th grader told me she wasn’t learning anything in math this year, I didn’t understand why.  I didn’t have enough information to even begin asking administrators or teachers why.  But when the school year was almost over, because of a friend, I  found out what “Common Core” education was and I started to research  […]

What is the Common Core? Rather than simply tell you what I think it is, I will show two schools of thought and have you make your own determination about what Common Core is. If you read the definition set out by the Utah State Office of Education or your local school district, you’ll think Common Core is […]

Education Without Representation:  A response to claims of the Utah State School Board’s Common Core flier   The Utah State Board of Education has circulated a flier which is posted on the official website. http://www.schools.utah.gov/core/DOCS/coreStandardsPamphlet.aspx None of the claims of the flier have been backed up with references.  This response will be backed up with references […]

The U.S.O.E. has been circulating the claim that Utah can “get out of Common Core anytime we like.” But how easy is it, really, to leave the Consortium (SBAC testing club that includes a majority of U.S. states) and to flee the Common Core adoption, that Utah signed on to in 2009 (to be fully implemented […]

April 15, 2012 Dear Teachers,   I’m a Utah teacher.  I’ve taught 3rd grade for two years, high school English for five years, and college English at Utah Valley University for two years.  Teachers often stay neutral on political issues. But the Common Core Initiative affects what millions of children will be taught and what […]

April 14, 2012   Dear Church Leaders,   President Benson said:  “As a watchman on the tower, I feel to warn you that one of the chief means of misleading our youth and destroying the family unit is our educational institutions.” Usually, the church stays neutral on political and educational issues. But the Common Core […]

Evidence and Links   A rising number of teachers, parents and taxpayers are expressing concerns about Utah’s adoption of the Common Core Initiative (CCI), its accompanying federal standards for states (CCSS) and its federally overseen and controlled testing arm (SBAC). Why? 1.   Utah did not seek out CCI; the initiative was presented as an eligibility […]

  Dear Utah Attorney General,   I am not a lawyer.  I am a teacher of high school English, third grade, and college English at UVU.  I’ve written education grants for schools in Utah County.  I’ve written for newspapers.  I translate documents from English to Swedish as I am currently staying at home with a […]

How do Virginia, Texas and South Carolina think differently from how Utah thinks? Why are their Governors and school boards savvy enough to reject Common Core (or are trying to, amid opposition) –when top Utah’s leaders are not?  Here, in their  own words, are the freedom fighters who value liberty in education, speaking out across […]

  Expert Testimonies Concerning Common Core State Standards I.    Testimony of CCSS Validation Committee Member Dr. Sandra Stotsky:  Common Core Holds Minimalist Conception of College Readiness, Weakens Literary Base Dr. Sandra Stotsky served on the National Validation Committee for the Common Core State Systemic Initiative and on the National Mathematics Advisory Panel, co-authoring its final […]

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT COMMON CORE   Heritage Foundation “Federal involvement in the Common Core national standards push is not some figment of            the imagination. Billions in federal funding, strings-attached NCLB waivers, and                               significant rhetorical support clearly point to a nationalization of the content taught in the            local schools. . . […]

How Common Core’s Lack of Transparency Affects Utah Teachers and Kids Utah educators have been given half truths and catch-phrases instead of documented realities about the impacts and repercussions of the Common Core Initiative.  Here are a few of my favorites: CC Proponents say that states should belong to the Common Core Initiative because it ensures […]

The Common Core Initiative:  What’s hidden between the lines? by Christel Swasey Ever since I saw Alisa Ellis and Renee Braddy’s “2 Moms Against Common Core,” I’ve barely slept.  My laundry is backed up.  I’m losing weight. All I do is research the Common Core Initiative (CCI). I talk to teachers.  I read think tanks and […]

1.  No cost analysis of Common Core has been done in Utah nor been provided by the U.S. Department of Education.  Usually, the Congressional Budget Office cost analyzes things like this.  But in fully claiming the partial truth that Common Core is a “state-led” initiative, the federal forces cleverly circumvented the law that prevents federal direction of […]

How the Common Core Educational Initiative hurts kids, teachers, parent rights and Utah’s budget Why are many Utah teachers and parents questioning Utah’s adoption of Common Core Education and the SBAC tests?   No cost analysis was done before Utah adopted Common Core. No legislative input has been used to consider Common Core and the public doesn’t […]

Yesterday’s excellent editorial in the Deseret News by JaKell Sullivan translates the four innocent-sounding pillars of Obama’s education reforms into plain English. The article points out: (The electronic links are mine) “The US Department of Education’s website details the four federal education reforms that 46 states are almost done implementing: 1 Adopt College-and-Career Ready standards […]

In January 1986 I was a high school student in Orlando, watching out the window as the Challenger Space Shuttle launched about fifty miles away. Christa MacAuliffe, the first teacher in space, was being launched with a seven member crew. Then we all saw the explosion in the sky. The plumes represented total failure and […]

Dear Miami Herald, I’m writing to point out five gross factual errors published in the Herald’s editorial yesterday. I realize that it’s an opinion editorial, not objective reporting; however, credibility demands common knowledge facts ought to be truthfully presented by a reputable newspaper. Please have an independent source fact-check the following quotes, which came from […]

Robert Scott is the former Texas Commissioner of Education and the man responsible for the heroic “No Thanks” that Texas gave to Common Core, back when virtually every other state was swallowing that pill for a shot at the Race to the Top millions. This week, Pioneer Institute has published a white paper by Robert […]

I’ve spoken with one of the highest-ranking education leaders in Utah about Common Core. His primary reason for wanting Utah to remain tied to Common Core was to make Utah’s children ready for the altered college testing; ACT and SAT are now aligning to Common Core. I pointed out to this man that lemming-like adherence […]

Common Core Concerns Please click on the links to get to the original source documents that verify Common Core does far more damage than good. The Race to the Top Grant Application – In this, Utah got points toward possibly winning grant money. Points were awarded in this application for the state’s having a student-tracker, […]

Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education, is angry. How dare Americans demand freedom from nationalized testing, nationalized standards and data collection? In yesterday’s speech to the American Society of News Editors, Duncan said: “…This event has been an opportunity for federal leaders to talk about touchy subjects.  For example, you asked President Kennedy to talk about […]

Top Ten Scariest People in Education Reform Bill Gates: Scary Philanthropy Countdown # 5  This is the fifth in a countdown series of introductions, a list of the top ten scariest people leading education in America.  For numbers 6, 7, 8,  9 and 10,  click here. The biggest philanthropist on earth comes across as the epitome of sincere, […]

Top Ten Scariest People in Education Reform  Linda Darling-Hammond Countdown # 6 This is the fourth in a countdown series of introductions, a list of the top ten scariest people leading education in America.   For number 7 ,  number 8,  number 9 and number 10,  click here. Don’t be fooled by her sweet-baby face.  Linda […]

RECLAIM EDUCATIONAL LIBERTY Many people –including bipartisan U.S. groups  and freedom fighters   in other nations— are working to save educational liberty.  We are waking up to shake off the chains that have settled over education. Please leave a comment if you know of updates to this chart.  United States Against Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Washington, D.C. State […]

The official Common Core websites make the program sound good.  The Department of Education promotes it.  The purveyors of Common Core implementation guides make it sound magnificent.  Many educators have said they support it. At the same time, research groups, think tanks, parent groups, university professors and increasingly, more and more teachers,  stand against it.  So who’s […]

Organizations  and People Against Common Core: Heritage Foundation CATO Institute Pioneer Institute Utah Eagle Forum Joyce & Dick Kinmont Family LDS Home Educators Assn. American Leadership Fund Standard of Liberty Proper Role of Government United Women’s Forum Principled Liberty Foundation Citizens for Strong Families Freedom for Utah Education Thomas Jefferson Center for Constitutional Studies Senator Michael […]