Education bills have stacked up at the NC General Assembly. There are currently over 200 bills related to education that have been filed.

One bill filed is HB 660 – Transition To Personalized Digital Learning.  This bill is being heard at the legislature today.

Over at StopCommonCoreNC.org, there is an article about this bill.  Please, go read it.

The article raises questions about accountability, protection of data, transparency and how much this thing will cost.  This bill expressly directs a public-private partnership venture with no oversight in place.

With regard to cost, do citizens know that E-rate is going to be used to fund this and that will result in direct tax increases? Arguably, E-rate a double-dipping maneuver. Do you, the reader even know what E-rate is?  Get busy reading.

This bill is very “shiny” and by that I mean it’s meant to look like NC is being so innovative and advancing education for kids. I am certain that was the intent, but this bill is so weak on too many fronts — and once again, the parents are being cut right out of the picture.

Some concerns of mine with HB 660:
Note: To clarify; these concerns are with respect to the creation of digital materials in the bill intended for classrooms.

• There are NO oversight mechanisms or penalties related to them in this bill.
• There is no mechanism for parents to be able to see what the kid sees or does in the classroom.
• No mechanism for parents challenging content they do see.
• No way to tell what data will be collected on the kids when they use this stuff, where it will be stored, how it will be used, what third parties will have access to it or how said data will be protected.
• There is no mechanism for uniformity of apps or content to be used. Is DPI going to be responsible for the selection of content or the individual LEA? Right now LEAs all over NC use widely varying content from a vast array of sources. How will NC’s ITS (Info Tech) department handle the security of these apps and digital content?

Parents, citizens – WAKE UP.
Read the bill.

Also in the StopCommonCoreNC.org article is a quote from me:

Lady Liberty notes an important point, data privacy and transparency do not appear to be a concern of the GA:

I managed to look through a good number of these 203 bills. To my dismay, not a single bill protecting parental rights with regards to their child’s education, data privacy or transparency in record keeping is in the mix.

I’d like to take a brief moment and say that one bill filed does include a section on parental rights.  This is not an education bill. It is a health bill.

HB 847 is titled Parental Rights and Med. Treatment of Minors. The relevant passage reads:

“§ 115C‑6.  Parents’ fundamental rights.

The liberty of a parent to direct the upbringing, education, and care of his or her child is a fundamental right. Neither the State nor any agency or locality of the State shall infringe on a parent’s fundamental rights to the care, custody, and control of his or her child without demonstrating a compelling State interest and use of the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling State interest. This shall not be construed to apply to a parent’s action or decision that would end life.“

Let me add that Daily Haymaker is not the only one with ‘moles‘ at the legislature.

With regard to HB 847, I have been told a few things about HB 847. Like for instance that yesterday, Rep. Larry Hall objected to this bill being heard on the 28th and that  HB 847 is on the House calendar for TODAY, April 29th, instead.

I also was told that the School Board Association has an objection on this parental rights bill. The School Board Association is objecting to the language that states parents have the fundamental right to “…direct the education of their children.” .

Who the Hell do these people think they are?

Pardon me, but I, as a parent, have the fundamental right to direct anything and everything concerning my child.  To the School Board Association, I’d like to tell them directly to GET OFF MY LAWN.

Today is going to be a busy day on this blog. Please check back for more.