Brown needs to pull California out of Race to the Top

This explains the costs of adopting the Common Core State Standards, etc.

Rumblings of an earthquake in national education policy?

Rally in the works....keep the first week of December open!

We, the concerned parents and citizens all over Maine, must come together and talk to our newly elected State officials and let them know where we stand. 

We don't want our students and schools to be guinea pigs -- the test case for the RISC model is the multiple Alaska schools that dumped it.

While we find Standards acceptable, we believe Maine taxpayers should have a voice in the Standards and that should be able to set higher standards when appropriate.  We don't want to participate in a further "dumbing down" of education that seems the goal of 'lowest common denominator' standards touted in the CCSS and National movement.  (Didn't anyone notice that Massachusetts had to LOWER their excellent standards to join the National movement?)

We believe traditional grading and its' inherent competition is essential to the education process.  Where better to learn how to compete than within the safe, nurturing school environment.  We are not properly preparing our students for life after public school -- or even college -- if we fail to teach them healthy competition or to provide real feedback on their efforts with a 15 scale grading system vise a 4 scale system of standards.

We don't want high-priced administrators siphoning off huge salaries and educator retirement pay simultaneously or setting up self-serving, lucrative consulting positions based on their experience implementing educational models, like RISC, that are not beneficial to our students.

We want community input into curriculum -- get rid of the paradigms that don't work like EDM and Whole Language.  Mastering mathematical algorithms does more to build self-esteem in a student than handing them a calculator and telling them which buttons to press.  (There is a place for technology, but you can't validate/audit work if you don't understand the logic.  One must wonder if Kindergarten is really the place for calculators.)

Readers - please post your concerns in the comment section (you can do this and remain 'anonymous') to help us ensure we capture the biggest issues appropriately.  Together we can effect a better outcome for our student!  Let us TAKE BACK OUR SCHOOLS!!!

Was Galileo wrong?

Has ed school theory called "constructivism" been the cause of America's decline in math & science? Everyday Math = constructivism

Home schooling, education jobs and Social Security: An education roundup

Interesting article and very interesting comments from readers at the bottom of the article. 

Say goodbye to local control of our schools

A biology teacher's thoughts on the CCSS.....

RSU 1 - email sent to board and superintendent on Nov 1

The following email as sent to the RSU 1 board & superintendent in regard to the elementary math curriculum:

I am glad that you are piloting some supplementary programs and reviewing the calculator policy. I urge you to also do the following:

1) Research alternative elementary math curriculums (avoid "spiraling" curriculums)
2) Start training elementary teachers on ways to teach the standards algorithms
3) Begin teaching the standard algorithms immediately (this year)
4) Immediately do away with Everyday Math for special education students

I am not in favor of the increased federal control that comes along with the adoption of the Common Cores State Standards (CCSS). While the CCSS do have some things that I like (i.e. standard algorithms), they are far from perfect. We'll find out what the Maine Legislature decides in January. If Maine chooses not to adopt the CCSS, it's still likely that they will adopt revised standards and these will specify the standard algorithms.

Many districts in CCSS states are moving away from Everyday Math. We'd be wise to do the same. I'm sure that EDM is working to try to align their text to the CCSS. Do we want to risk adopting their first attempt at a program aligned to the CCSS? Will the writers of EDM continue to push too many different algorithms onto our students? Will the drop algorithms like the "Lattice Method?" Will they do away with the spiraling? The National Math Advisory Panel WARNS against spiraling.

It's been years since many of our RSU 1 elementary teachers have taught the standard algorithms. They will need training to switch back to traditional algorithms. Please commit to giving them this training.

Election Results Raise Questions for Common Standards

Who is Marc Tucker?????

Marc Tucker is one of the drivers of education reform. He's overseeing the new "Board Examination" system.

It's time that parents start investigating his agenda. Are you in agreement with his plans for education reform? Are we currently seeing his plan, outlined in his famous 1992 letter, take hold?

Why Lou Gerstner Is Wrong

Lou Gerstner is influencing education policy. He's on record as saying that he'd like to abolish local school boards and all local school districts. Is it really necessary to eliminate the nations local school boards? While some of his ideas might work, this one is concerning....

21st century skills soft at core

According to the writer, 21st century skills and the national standards initiative both stress skills over academic content.

Almost two-thirds of students entering RI Community College not ready for college work

This is a must read! Keep in mind, RI develops Maine's state exam (NECAP). What does it really mean to pass the NECAP? Are the community colleges in Maine willing to share the remediation data like they did in Rhode Island?

NEWS FLASH: Maine Moves a Step Closer to Nationalized Testing

Today, Maine's Commissioner of Education, Angela Flaherty, approved the Common Core Standards. This IS NOT a full adoption, since standards must be approved by the State Legislature in Maine. Maine's next legislative session convenes in January.

Maine: Public quiet on new proposed state education standards

It's amazing that we've heard so little about Maine's proposed adoption of the Common Core State Standards. How do the teachers feel about Nationalized Testing?

Gov Rick Perry (TX) on National Standards

Gov Perry explains why Texas did not sign onto nationalized testing. What strings are attached to Race to the Top money and the Common Core Standards Initiative?

Honey, When Did the Feds Take over the Kids' School?

The Maine State Legislature will decide on nationalized testing in early 2011. Parents should research all sides of this issue.

The Federal Takeover of Education

The Federal Takeover of Education

Excerpt from article.....read more at the link provided

...As an incentive, states that adopted the Common Core by August 2, 2010 greatly improved their chances of receiving a share of the $4.35-billion Race to the Top federal grant. The strategy worked: most states adopted the standards. However, only nine states and the District of Columbia were actually awarded the money. All ten of those winners had adopted the standards.

As a penalty, states that failed to adopt the Common Core risked losing funding from Title I, a $14.4-billion program that provides funds for low-income students. Most school districts participate in the Title I program.

This penalty was announced in a White House press release issued on February 22, 2010. It stated that new polices from the Obama administration would "require all states to adopt and certify that they have college- and career-ready standards in reading and mathematics, which may include common standards developed by a state-led consortium, as a condition of qualifying for Title I funding."...