Category Archives: Common Core

Ask Dr. Atkinson: Why Has NC Not Withdrawn From The SBAC?

Posted on July 26, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

North Carolina has repealed Common Core from it’s state statutes.
A replacement commission is about to be named and get to work.

Here’s the next question that the Legislature will have to address:
Why is NC still a member of the Common Core tied Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC)?

Ask State Superintendent and CCSSO President Elect, Dr. Atkinson, why.
Here’s the responses one citizen received (below). Ask the question. See what kind of answer you get. Continue reading →

Posted in Common Core, June Atkinson | Tagged SBAC | Comments Off

More About “Project RED” And NC Ties

Posted on July 26, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

This past week, we posted a guest article called “Do You Know RED?” which went into detail about the Pearson Foundation project. In it, there was mention of Superintendent Edwards, from Mooresville.

This entry is a little more detail on Mr. Mark Edwards to add to the prior story. A reader who read “Do You Know RED” reached out to me and provided some more information. Below is what they sent to me and it is interesting – Mr. Edwards has extensive Pearson ties.

Quick reminder, Mr. Edwards has a really nice contract loaded with perks paid for by the NC taxpayers. Read the entire contract here.
Below are their comments to me, unedited except for formatting to suit the blog set-up. Follow the links provided, they are illuminating. The last one in the list especially which highlights his Vice Presidency at a testing company and his book had a forward in it from Common Core pushing Jeb Bush. Continue reading →

Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), Common Core | Tagged Pearson | 3 Comments

The Education and Workforce Innovation Commission

Posted on July 26, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

Is education about learning or is it about a workforce? Maybe a bit of both. With Common Core, it’s all about setting up kids to be piled into one profession or another based on data collected on them.

Governor McCrory signed the Common Core repeal bill for North Carolina, but seemed nonplussed. His comments on the matter, prior to signing, seemed to indicate a possible rebrand attempt would take place. Or maybe he’s got his own Core-like program set up: The Education and Workforce Innovation Commission.

This commission is in our state statutes “115C-64.15. This commission was created via the General Assembly. It looks like HB 902 was a first attempt and the first line of the bill reads as follows and gets progressively public/private partnership laden:

“The Education and Workforce Innovation Act will accelerate progress toward high academic rigor and skills development with the goal of graduating every student both college and career ready.”
Continue reading →

Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), Common Core, NCGA, Pat McCrory, POLITICS NC | 1 Comment

Common Core PR Machine: The Collaborative For Student Success

Posted on July 25, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

Politico has a brief blurb about Glenn Beck’s We Will Not Conform event. At the end of that blurb, they lend credibility to the panel I was on – Messaging and Public Relations. Here’s what Politico has up:

— Pushing back against Beck’s populist rage, the Collaborative for Student Success today will release two videos featuring former Republican governors praising the Common Core standards. The collaborative, which has received funding from the Gates Foundation, plans to promote the videos through social media. A peek: http://bit.ly/Ugbalu.

That “peek” goes to The Collaborative for Student Success. They make some wild claims on that about page, including citing a statistic of support that they do not have a link to support. You’re just supposed to take their word for it. Their ‘about’ page clearly states who is behind this group. It’s exactly who you think:

The Collaborative is supported by both regional and national foundations, including: Carnegie Corporation of New York, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Helios Education Foundation, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Lumina Foundation, and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. Other funders may soon be joining this important effort.

So, another Common Core pushing PR group? Pretty much. Continue reading →

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

A Principal’s Key Message For Parents On Common Core

Posted on July 25, 2014 by A.P. Dillon

Stop me if you’re an elementary parent and have heard this or a version of this recently:

Our teachers have spent time reviewing the Common Core Standards and practice assessments. These standards require an integrated approach, one that combines learning from many disciplines to solve problems—just like in the real world. It will be important for your child to strengthen his or her critical thinking skills and find and use multiple types of data. These are skills needed in work and in life.
Our teachers and our students will be working together more, using technology, and demonstrating what they have learned in new ways. We will be supporting and yet challenging students to persevere through complex tasks and seek out needed information. These new standards, connected to the great work our teachers already do, will support and
deepen learning for your child. Continue reading →

Posted in Common Core | Comments Off

GUEST POST: Do You Know RED?

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

is is a Guest Post from a concerned North Carolina Citizen.
—————————-
DO YOU KNOW RED?

Recently, I was following up on an associate’s suggestion about looking into digital textbooks. Do you know RED?

I stumbled upon “Project RED” from none other than the Pearson Foundation.
You may Pearsonnot know Pearson Foundation, but I’m sure you are familiar with Pearson Publishing. The very company set to make billions in profits connected to Common Core Standards. Since RED is such a friendly sort of ‘person’, pull up a chair and let’s delve into the family scrapbook. Related Read: Laying down the laptop laws

Let Me Introduce you
“Project RED” is short for ‘Revolutionizing Education’. The PDF report published on the Project that I’ll be referencing is from 2010, titled: ‘THE TECHNOLOGY FACTOR: Nine Keys to Student Achievement and Cost-Effectiveness’. Continue reading →