Category Archives: Common Core

Have You RSVP’D For The Common Core Challenge Yet?

Posted on September 24, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

This is a reminder — I’ll be speaking at an upcoming symposium hosted by the Citizens Constitutional Caucus in Cary, NC on the morning of September 27th.

Get your ticket and join us for the Common Core Challenge featuring myself, Jamey Faulkenbury and Greg Brannon.

Hit the story for details: REMINDER: NC Common Core Symposium 9/27 Continue reading →

Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), Common Core | 2 Comments

Postmortem: First Common Core Commission Meeting

Posted on September 23, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

Yesterday was the first meeting of the Common Core Commission, officially known as the Academic Standards Review Commission (ASRC). It took place from 2 to 4 pm in a small conference room on the 4th floor of the Education building where the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is housed. By law, the commission is not supposed to meet at DPI but they split hairs just enough by holding it in the Construction office’s conference room.

At any rate, as I said, it was small and seating was tight for those who could get a chair. In fact, it was mainly standing room only with overflow into the hallway.

KEEP READING FOR A FULL RUN DOWN OF THE MEETING, OBJECTIVES, ATTENDEES AND MEDIA COVERAGE Continue reading →

Posted in Academic Standards Review Commission, Common Core | Tagged | 7 Comments

Durham Schools Drops Teach For America

Posted on September 20, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

Here is an interesting tidbit. Durham schools has dropped their contract with Teach for America (TFA), citing the district no longer needs the group and that their turnover rate isn’t in line with the district’s retention goals.

The district has worked with TFA for the past decade and currently has 12 teachers from the program in local schools: Six at Southern School of Energy and Sustainability, four at Neal Magnet Middle School and two at Eastway Elementary School.

The Board of Education last month decided not to renew TFA’s contract, saying the district no longer needs the group’s help and that local schools need teachers willing to commit more than the two years TFA requires.

“We want to build a strong teacher workforce that’s made up of career educators,” school board Chairwoman Heidi Carter said Friday. “Our job is to look long term and make decisions that will benefit the most students over time.”

Carter said the inconsistency and turnover after TFA teachers leave can create problems, especially in high-risk schools where many of the teachers are placed.

“No organization in the business world builds its workforce from temp employees, and basically, that’s what this would be doing.” she said. – WRAL

This criticism about turnover is not new. Flashback to 2011 when Diane Ravitch spoke at Duke:

READ MORE – SEE THE DETAILS ON MONETARY JUGGERNAUT TFA Continue reading →

Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), Common Core, EDUCATION, June Atkinson, NC DPI, NCGA, Pat McCrory | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Durham Schools Drops Teach For America

Poll: McCrory Only Leads Cooper By 2

Posted on September 20, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

The Left in North Carolina is unimpressed. The Independents aren’t really digging him either. The Right? Well, this governor is bleeding supporters — especially over Common Core. Can’t say that the legislature is fond of him at the moment either – the song and dance about the coal ash commission being unconstitutional comes to mind.

Will Governor McCrory be a one hit wonder?

Sept. Poll – @PatMcCroryNC only leads by 2. Gee, maybe playing President Business/Jim Hunt II is backfiring? http://t.co/TaxhE2j2CU #ncpol

— LL1885 – A.P. Dillon (@LadyLiberty1885) September 18, 2014 Continue reading →

Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), Common Core, ELECTIONS, Pat McCrory | Comments Off on Poll: McCrory Only Leads Cooper By 2

Attn NC Common Core Fighters: Get To The First Commission Meeting

Posted on September 19, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

Are you fighting Common Core in North Carolina?
Come join the rest of us at the first Academic Standards Review Commission Meeting.

Stand in solidarity, Stop Common Core and
WEAR BLACK.
Details:
Monday, September 22nd
2:00 p.m. -4:00 p.m.
State Construction Office Conference Room, 4th Floor, Education Building
301 N. Wilmington St. Raleigh, NC. Continue reading →

Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), Academic Standards Review Commission, Common Core | Tagged | 1 Comment

MO Ed Commissioner, Governor Sued By Citizens Over Common Core SBAC Test Funds

Posted on September 18, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

This article is crossposted at StopCommonCoreNC.org

Fred N. Sauer of Missouri is suing Governor Jay Nixon and other state officials over the $4.3 million paid to Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) in relation to the Common Core State Standards tests.

The editors of Missouri Education Watchdog have joined the suit as plaintiffs. The main points of the suit are the challenging of the use of taxpayer money for the SBAC, that the SBAC is an unconstitutional interstate compact and that Governor Nixon and Commissioner Nicastro’s conduct violated federal and state statutes. Nicastro announced her retirement just this past week.

Via Missouri Education Watchdog:

KEEP READING… Continue reading →

Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), Common Core, LEGAL | Tagged , | Comments Off on MO Ed Commissioner, Governor Sued By Citizens Over Common Core SBAC Test Funds