KEA Pilot Cost: $511,360

Posted on October 2, 2015 by A.P. Dillon

The Kindergarten Entry Assessment pilot conducted in half of North Carolina’s elementary schools in the 2014-15 school year apparently cost $511,360.

This $511,360 figure comes from the Department of Public Instruction response to a Freedom of Information Act request I original sent to Wake County Schools earlier this year.

It is unclear if the $511,360 is money from the Race To The Top – Early Learning Challenge grant or if the funds came from the Department of Public Instruction budget.

The pilot included 193 Kindergarten teachers and was executed across 51 school districts. In the current school year, the KEA has apparently been rolled out to all elementary schools in North Carolina.

You can view the break out of the costs at the bottom of this article.

Note the large amount of ‘technology’ related line items.  The KEA depends on the use of technology and devices to ‘capture’ observations on these kindergarteners.  The KEA is, of course, Common Core aligned.

Bob Luebke at Civitas has an excellent article about the KEA, the data collection inherent in it and the privacy concerns it raises. ALL parents should read it.

The KEA has an array of ‘constructs’ to assess your 5 or 6-year-old on. Only a few are being used right now, but the rest of them deal with highly subjective items like ’emotional literacy’.

Officials at the Department of Public Instruction gave conflicting answers on whether the data being collected stayed at the school or if it was being passed along into the Statewide Longitudinal Database System (SLDS).  Remember, the data in the SLDS and the P-20w database will follow kids through college and into the workforce.

Parents should ask themselves, do I really want this information, much of it subjective, following my child through to college?

Parents CAN opt out of this photo/video data collection, however the vast majority have not been informed by their schools about said opt out.

RELATED READING/MATERIALS:

Posted in Common Core, NC DPI | Tagged , | 2 Comments

What They’re Saying About Education in #NCED – (10/02/15)

Posted on October 2, 2015 by A.P. Dillon

NCED IconHere are some quick hits about education in North Carolina.

Some of you may have seen the “Wallet Hub” rankings of the Best and Worst states for teachers. North Carolina was listed as number 50 of 51. The Left is making a big deal of it, shocker right?

This is the same outfit who did this ‘ranking’ for the first time last year and Kay Hagan used it in her campaign.  You can read my take-down  of that story here.

I’ve obtained North Carolina’s data sets and will be taking a closer look at it. A cursory glance at it so far leads me to believe their conclusion and our state ranking aren’t quite right. Go figure, since it’s based mostly on data from a teachers union.

Update: Terry Stoops at John Locke beat me too it with , A closer look at the WalletHub data. I’ll still be taking a closer look myself.

#1 – KEA: Big Government Comes to Kindergarten

#2 – Former Union County Board Member Marcella Savage Pleads Guilty To Fraud Charges

Marcella Ramirez Savage, 42, of Waxhaw, was charged with two counts of swearing falsely to official reports, two counts of obtaining repairs and supplies for private a vehicle, and one count of enforcement of local government finance.

Savage’s attorney said his client has a lot of shame and wanted to take responsibility for her actions. Savage faced 45 days in jail but since she plead guilty to the local and state charges she received 12 months probation and must re-pay $1223.97.

#3 – You Will Be Made To Care: CMS to create video to address transgender issues

Related:

It gets worse… teaching tolerance is involved: http://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/youth-resources.htm#school

Also see: Bullied: A Student, a School and a Case That Made History: Teaching materials for educatorsExternal Web Site Icon from Teaching Tolerance

#4 – Teacher Pay: If a $750 bonus is an “insult,” then please insult me
Related: What’s missing from discussions on teacher pay

#5 – DPI examines State Funding Trends in Education

#6 – The Education Budget: Three Things You Should Know

#7 – Contracts presented to the State Board of Education for October, 2015

#8 – 28 New Charter School Applications

Twenty-eight nonprofit boards submitted applications to open public charter schools in August 2017. A spreadsheet of applicants is available on the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) Office of Charter Schools’ website.

#9 – SAS’s Ann Goodnight perpetuates STEM Myth While Bemoaning ‘Skills Gap’.

I tried posting a comment for two days on the article, it was finally let through by the moderators. Go read it.

#10 – Opportunity Scholarship expansion narrowly defeated

#11 – In case you missed it, I’ve been on Freedom Action Network Radio a few times in the last week talking about Education and the Legislature. 

#12 – So, Is June Atkinson running or not?

Posted in Charter Schools, Common Core, EDUCATION, June Atkinson, NC Board Of Education, NC DPI, NC Ed Updates | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

So, Is June Atkinson Running or Not? – #NCed #NCpol

Posted on October 1, 2015 by A.P. Dillon

Last year, it looked very much like Dr. Atkinson was not going to run for State Superintendent again and ride off into the sunset.

Her campaign committee hadn’t raised anything since 2013 and was basically dormant.

AtkinsonPresElectThat lead to most people figuring she wouldn’t run again. After all, Atkinson is responsible for locking North Carolina into the experimental and fundamentally flawed Common Core State Standards.

She’s also the current president of one of the two D.C. trade groups that pushed the standards and also own the copyright on the standards.

She’s also responsible for forging a ‘partnership’ with the Bill Gates backed “Hope Street Group“; a teacher “voice” mill for promoting Common Core.

Oops, there I go again.. “bearing false witness“.

Well, something might have changed.

Sources now tell me she does plan to run and will make an announcement soon. With “technical corrections” to HB 373 expanding the Council of State, Atkinson will have access to quite a campaign money war chest full of special interest money.  Any candidate the GOPe dislikes or  who actually stands with the public won’t have a prayer now, bully for her!

Opponents for Atkinson include Dr. Rosemary Stein, Mark Johnson and Henry Pankey so far.

If Atkinson does run, I’m also told Rep. Tricia Cotham will not make a run for the spot. One should hope Cotham never runs, because frankly this state needs a legislator running DPI like a hole in the head.

Either way, I’m ready. Let’s hope that North Carolina has had enough of Dr. Atkinson, like they’ve had enough of the professional politicians in this state and nationally.

Stay tuned!

Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), Common Core, ELECTIONS, June Atkinson | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Guest Post: Buncombe County Schools, STEM and Food Labs

Posted on September 30, 2015 by A.P. Dillon

GUEST POST ICONThe following is a guest post of a Facebook comment by Mark Cates of Buncombe county. Mr. Cates has given his permission for his comment to be re-posted on this site.

Cates is a Father, engineer, small business owner currently residing in Asheville, North Carolina.

Buncombe County schools has a massively expensive ‘Food lab renovation‘ on the table.

While reading this article, one might want to consider the narrative of Common Core supporters both nationally and in North Carolina regarding STEM students. For example, just yesterday, Ann Goodnight of SAS rambled on about STEM in an article on the website of one her pet ‘education non-profits’.

The claim is ‘we need Common Core to advance STEM’. This is part and parcel of the widely debunked STEM myth.  It’s been proven by multiple parties, including one of the math standards lead writers, Jason Zimba,  that Common Core does not support a STEM path.

Buncombe County Schools, STEM and Food Labs

By Mark Cates

The interesting thing about local government is that they never cease to surprise. Once again, Buncombe County Schools rises to the occasion…

As a STEM professional, I don’t find the STEM school particularly attractive. We spent a lot of money to take these kids out of local schools where they could have been a more active and positive force. Not to mention the fact that we increased their daily commute significantly… time that could have been spent on… wait for it.. education.

Somehow Asheville High School manages to provide a STEM education, but didn’t require spending on a $5 million school. (Which by the way, that’s not the actual price, it keeps going up. Unfortunately our paper of record doesn’t feel the need to explain these types of cost over runs to the public, but that only validates the recent data about why media is not trusted.)

Anyway, what’s the latest with Buncombe County Schools? Well, some Board of Education members thought I was crazy when I suggested having a STEM focus in the high schools themselves. This would have eliminated the weeding out of certain kids, it would have kept their positive influence within the school, and it would have given them more time to learn each day.

But I was told it just couldn’t be done. The kids needed to be bused across town, the STEM kids needed to be yanked out of their home school. They needed the new school. After all, it’s a monument to how great our educational system is…

Turns out all those reasons where bogus, except for the last one.

How do I know?

Well… Buncombe County Schools can put a “food lab” in our high schools. They can renovate the high schools to have a really cool and super modern “food labs”… it was only impossible with STEM.

So let’s think this through… teaching our kids how to work in the food service industry needs to be kept in the local schools.

Teaching our kids how to be Scientists & Engineers, well… why would we want to make sure every kid in our high school had easy access to that opportunity?

Posted in EDUCATION, Government, GUEST POSTS | Tagged | Comments Off on Guest Post: Buncombe County Schools, STEM and Food Labs

Wake GOP’s ‘Useless Email Champion’ Attacks NC GOP Chair on Facebook

Posted on September 28, 2015 by A.P. Dillon

As I pointed out on Friday, the GOPe  (GOP establishment) has it out for newly elected GOP Chair, Hasan Harnett. Instead of supporting or helping him, my sources tell me that the powers that be have been inching the rug out from under him since day one. This story is more of the same.

Anyone who has been a part of or has signed up for Wake County GOP emails knows that Donna Williams is the ‘Useless Email Champion’.

While Williams Chaired the Wake GOP, recipients on the list were treated to daily emails of job postings, meeting information and district events.

Very rarely did an email of substance come from Williams — you know, like one containing
relevant political issues or, God forbid, taking a position on a given issue.

HEHLike I said, Useless Email Champion.

And yes, Ms. Williams, I am trolling you right now.

You deserve it.

If the party were to attack issues instead of its own people, the fundraising would take care of itself. Harnett’s elected signaled a dissatisfaction with the party’s direction. Instead of attacking him, perhaps some soul-searching should be on the menu.

The GOP overall has a messaging problem — and it’s a self-inflicted problem as we are about to see.  While the emails were ‘blah blah blah’ and useless, Facebook seems to be more Williams’ milieu.

You see, on Facebook, Williams has no problem launching hilariously ham-fisted attacks on her own state party chair.

What was I saying about self-inflicted messaging problems again? Oh yeah, THIS. 

This is an incredibly transparent attack from the woman, who as chair did nothing about anything of consequence in Wake County.  A highlight of her term would be allowing the Wake Board of Commissioners to be taken over without firing a shot.

Perhaps Mr. Harnett went to the debates to garner support from other venues, since he clearly isn’t getting it here at home.

Related Reading

Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), GOP, POLITICS NC | 3 Comments

#DM7 Article: Now Banned: Kiss Cams?

Posted on September 27, 2015 by A.P. Dillon

This is a repost of my weekly Da Tech Guy Column: Now Banned: Kiss Cams?

By A.P. Dillon

The ability to reason and think for one’s self in this country has been lost.

Apparently, Kiss Cams are now considered inappropriate at Syracuse University.

The kiss cam did not operate during Saturday’s game between the Orange and Central Michigan University following a letter to the editor published Friday on Syracuse.com questioning its appropriateness at a time when universities are focused on discouraging sexual assaults. During game delays couples kissing for the camera are displayed on the Jumbotron to entertain the crowd.

“We are taking the time to assess the concerns expressed in the letter to the editor. We discussed this with POMCO, the sponsor, and they supported that approach,” Sue Edson, executive senior associate athletics director for communications, said in an email. – Syracuse.com

As Syracuse is my Alma Mater, I am beyond mortified. I’m flabbergasted at the amount of sheer, pure STUPID going on here.  I feel dumber for having read the whole article all the way through. We’re one step closer to Demolition Man becoming reality.

But wait, it gets worse. The dumping of the Kiss Cam occurred because of one letter from a man named Steve Port, who compares the Kiss Cam to rape.

The instances I witnessed at the game encourage and condone sexual assault and a sense of male entitlement, at best. And they are an actual instance of assault, at worst,” Port wrote in his letter.

“No one has the right to forcefully touch someone be it a hug, a kiss or a violent rape. I adamantly insist that Syracuse University student government, the chancellor, the athletic director, etc. review what happened last weekend and seriously consider the ramifications of what they are encouraging,” he said. – Syracuse.com

Well, there you have it. Kiss Cams have been causing sexual assaults for decades across the country. Someone get that Jumbotron indicted already, will ya?

A couple of comments were posted in the article, this is one of them and it was nausea inducing:

syrfan47: “The question to me is not whether this meets the criteria for assault “legally”. The question is; given the context of today’s campus behaviors; why are we encouraging male entitlement in such a public forum. The reluctance of the women was clear; and I was uncomfortable with the Dome’s management condoning this outdated practice. For the record; I’m a guy; big SU fan, was at the game, and I do have daughters.”

It would seem that syrfan47’s own “male entitlement” is not in question. He sounds like a parrot, echoing the phrasing of Mr. Port.  The rest of the commenters nodding their little lemming heads in agreement are no better.

Ban all Things - Easily offendedMany thought the Kiss Cam was a dumb idea, but throughout the comments, most agreed yanking the cam was equally dumb.

It’s clear what has to happen. We need to act! Protect the easily offended – ban all things!

The only relief from this story is the vast majority of comments called this turn of events what it is — politically correct idiocy.

Here’s a sample:

“The kiss cam promotes sexual assault in the same way watching grown men tackle each other to the ground over possession of a ball promotes violence. Sorry, but this guy’s letter is taking things a bit too far.”

“My question is, when are they going to stop selling beer? I think selling beer at the games is promoting alcoholism and the college is sending out a message that you should be drinking at sporting events.”

“I’m offended by all of those who are offended so off with your heads. Seriously this is all totally out of hand. Don’t breath you just might offend the person next to you”

And just last week, the President of the United States scolded Universities for ‘coddling’ their students.  Perhaps the President’s message should have been directed at the general public.

DM7 small LL1885A.P. Dillon resides in the Triangle area of North Carolina and is the founder of LadyLiberty1885.com.
Her current and past writing can also be found at IJ Review, StopCommonCoreNC.org, Heartland.org and Watchdog Wire NC.
Catch her on Twitter: @LadyLiberty1885

 

Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), Poltical Correctness | Tagged | Comments Off on #DM7 Article: Now Banned: Kiss Cams?