These are the Common Core Weekend Reads for April 25, 2015.

This is a review of the past week of news on Common Core nationwide and in North Carolina.

Articles are organized by category.

Prior Edition of Weekend Reads: 4-19-15

Note – There will be no Weekend Reads for May 3rd as I’ll be traveling back from Right Online 2015.

NC Academic Standards Review Commission (ASRC) Updates:
Reminder:  April 30th is the last day for leaving Feedback on the standards using DPI’s ridiculous survey.

I was unable to attend the April meeting and I’d like to thank you to Coastal Carolina Taxpayers Association for their detailed meeting notes.

I would encourage everyone to read them. The sparring between Ann Clark and Dr. Scheik surrounding Common Core being one-size-fits all is important. What is equally important is the re-direct Co-Chair Peek gave to their sparring.  Related excerpt below:

“Dr. Scheick shared an article about a sample exam from NC that kids knew the wrong way to do math problems, and half the kids did worse than guessing. Andre stated that the standards we have now have issues that whatever recommendations are the result of this commission, they have to be inclusive, no one left out, and no remediation should be required of those entering college.”

Dr. Scheik refers to an article in the above passage. I think it is likely this one by Dr. Terry Stoops.

April 20th meeting materials:

• SB 14 (pdf)
• Academic Standards Review Commission Agenda (pdf)
• ASRC ELA SubCommitte Mins and Summary of Work (pdf)

Next ASRC meeting:  May 18, 2015 1:00-5:00 PM

NC UPDATES:  

• There are 203 Education Related Bills At The #NCGA (Updated)
• #WCPSS Proposed Budget: $1.4 Billion… Yes, Billion with a B.
• Parents, Are You Watching Data Collection Expansion Bills #HB401 and #HB767?
• Gee, A Little Heavy Handed With the Common Core Love @EducationNC?
• NC’s ESEA Extension Makes No Mention Of Common Core Commission

QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

“The parents are tired and they’re ready for people to start listening, and we don’t want this. Our kids are suffering because of it,” said Kelly Watson, who noticed a change in her 8-year-old daughter since the standards were introduced.
– NewsMax

“Hate it, absolutely hate it,” said Nikki Tashiro. “I want Common Core gone. I hate that the first three weeks of school, my 6-year-old asked me if she could be a dropout. She won’t be in public school next year if Common Core continues. Education is so important, but to me this is not education. This is child abuse.”
– NewsMax

“But your question is really a larger one. How did we end up at a point where we are so negative about the most important non-family enterprise in the raising of the next generation which is how our kids are educated?”
– Hillary Clinton discussing Common Core, Caffeinated Thoughts

LEGISLATIVE/LEGAL:

• Senate ESEA Draft: Review of Approved Amendments, Part I
• Senate ESEA Draft: Review of Approved Amendments, Part II
• Tennessee House Votes Unanimously To Repeal, Replace Common Core No, not really: Tennessee House Passes Common Core ‘trade-off’
• Common Core opponents lose their first fight in the Louisiana Legislature

POLITICAL/PROTESTS:

• Dear @TheBlaze and @GlennBeck, I Have a Scott Walker Question for You
• Parents Protesting Georgia Milestones cite Common Core
• ​Common Core Tsunami Intensifies​
• Duncan Meets with Common Core Protesters 

HIGHLIGHTED ARTICLES:

• Prominent NY Principal Leaves, Cites Common Core and Testing
• The Common Core War of Unicorns and Crawfish
• Beyond Education Wars
• Feds Play the Race Card to Crush Parents’ Revolt Against Common Core

THE WEEKEND READS:

• Pearson Is Everywhere: Over 175k Opt Out of Pearson PARCC in NY
• “Teachers Cannot Teach What They Do Not Know”
• EPIC: DoD Collecting Sensitive Student Data
• Social Media CCSS ‘Truth’… or not.
• When Curriculum Goes Bad
• Common Core treats Global Warming like Settled Science
• 3 Reasons Universities Criticize Common Core
• CCSS Supporter Profiling Higher Ed Degrees
• Reader Responds to DESE’s Survey Monkey on Missouri Learning Standards aka Common Core State Standards
• What is Common Core To You?
• Reformers Save Schools from Parents

TESTING UPDATES:

• Common Core computer problems persist despite vendor assurances
• No juniors show up to take SBAC at Seattle high school
• ​Anti-Common Core Activists Leak States English Test Online​
• Petition: NC Opting Out of Standardized Testing
• Nearly 5 percent of Madison students opt out of new Common Core state test : Wsj
• Parents Who Let Kids Opt Out of Common Core Tests Faced with Dilemma When School Unveils Punishment  (Let the lawsuits begin!)

VIDEO OF THE WEEK:

• Jane Robbins- Common Core and Data Collection

TWEETS OF THE WEEK:

Hi @theblaze @glennbeck Pls ask Scott Walker who his Ed Adviser was when they adopted Common Core. http://t.co/70ALHC94IF #stopcommoncore

— LL1885 – A.P. Dillon (@LadyLiberty1885) April 21, 2015

The New York Times Misses the Story: Opt Out Came from Parents, Not Unions http://t.co/cfYlzpRCra

— Diane Ravitch (@DianeRavitch) April 20, 2015

Attention, D.C.: The nationwide Common Core PARCC & SBAC testing tech fiascos this spring make Obamacare “glitches” look like nothingburger.

— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) April 20, 2015

If you’re a parent & you aren’t thoroughly pissed at massive amt of time & $ squandered by CCSS/Pearson/PARCC/SBAC testing tyrants, WAKE UP.

— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) April 20, 2015

@EducationNC Burris resigned over Common Core & tests. FL info is ONE school. ‘Ed News’ is misleading at best. #nced pic.twitter.com/N99ZL8rYj4

— LL1885 – A.P. Dillon (@LadyLiberty1885) April 25, 2015