CT parent explains common core and SBAC, while empowering parents to advocacy.
There is aCRISIS in American education today and this crisisis Common Core.
SBAC Test REFUSALS as of 4/1/15: 23% in Sherman, CT!! = 64 of 271 test-taking students in grades 3-8 in Sherman!! So Far... Sherman Parents SUPPORT their children, teachers & schools by refusing to submit their children to this unsafe, inappropriate test. The SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) is the Common Core-aligned test. It is being given to 3rd-8th & 11th graders at various times this spring. Dates vary from town to town. Sherman middle school students start 4/27.
Throughout the country, more and more parents are choosing their children and communities first. Mass SBAC (PARCC in some states) test refusal, sends a powerful message to Hartford- “Put our children and public schools before Corporate interests and Federal control.” I hope we can encourage parents in other towns to also utilize their parental rights. Education experts say that refusing the test is the best move for parents.
We cannot ignore the Facts: Fact: Federal Government control over education is unconstitutional and something our Forefathers knew was dangerous to our civil liberties.
Fact: The SBAC has a predetermined 60-70% (90% for special Ed) failure rate.
Fact: The test is meant to fail students. Teacher evaluations now tied to the students, mean the teachers will then fail. The lowered school rating, opens the door for the public school to be taken over by a Charter school.
Fact: The major differences between public schools and Charter schools are: Charters have NO elected Board of Education, parental input, or local representation. Charters are run by investors, for profit and they funnel our public education tax dollars away from our public schools.
Fact: The SBAC is scientifically "invalid", "unreliable" and "experimental"
Fact: SBAC is a psychological assessment, collecting non-cognitive data and psychological data.
Fact: SBAC is an adaptive test. Each test is different so the SBAC cannot be used as a measure of academic mastery.
Fact: All data from national tests, including SBAC, assessments and surveys can be data mined. So, all of the children's "private" information will go to the USDOE and any third party, who claims to use the data for "educational purposes."
Fact: This data, is not HIPAA protected (nor are any medical records, IEP, 504 or data collected via schools). All this data is considered “educational records,” thus they fall under FERPA.
Fact: The child's private data via SBAC is not adequately protected by FERPA because this federal privacy rights law was unconstitutionally changed in 2011, by executive order, to allow the collection and accessing of children’s sensitive information without parental consent.
Fact: This personally identifiable Data DOES leave the state per SBAC and US DOE memorandum of understanding (MOU).
Fact: The child's Psych data is available/provided/accessible to the federal government & third parties and vendors (some of whom are outside of the US).
Fact: Other states have responded by passing robust data privacy laws. CT has not.
Fact: Ed tech companies boast that they now collect 10,000 data points per child, per day- more than google, netflix or facebook. Fact: All parents/citizens should be made aware of these facts so they can make an informed decision about their children’s safety, teacher & school ratings, use of tax dollars and the direction of education in our country. Common Core is NOT about bettering education, but about molding a compliant workforce,removing parental rights, removing local representation and making billions for Corporate America.
There is no other exam in life with this failure rate, inherent safety risks, high stakes and labels for life...and, and certainly not for children! Will you let your children (and our country) walk into this mess?
At this late stage in the game, we are in a crisis. It is our responsibility as freedom-loving citizens and parents, for the sake of our children, and communities and country- to learn about Common Core and SBAC today. Parents, WE will be the ones to safeguard our children, communities and today’s education. So let’s get started- REFUSE THE SBAC!
Please talk with others and SHARE what you know. There is a CRISIS in education and parents and educators need to act NOW.
For more information consider these resources: CT specific- Jonathan Pelto's blog, "Wait, What?! national - Dr. Mercedes Schneider's blog, "deutsch29" Truth in American Education Missouri Education Watchdog
fb Choose to Refuse Lace to the Top Parents and Educators against Common Core Inappropriate Common Core Lessons Stop Common Core in CT Opt Out of Standardized Tests-CT (look for regional/town chapters, too)