This is just the latest power grab by the Federal Government in an attempt to control our children and their futures.
In 2009 the Stimulus Bill gave a $4.35 billion dollar earmark to the Federal Dept. of Education to do with as it pleased. The Dept. of Education then created the “Race to the Top Competition” whereby the government took our money and gave us the chance to win it back. States could complete to get some of that money only after agreeing to adopt common core sight unseen (we have to adopt it to see what’s in it; Pelosi would be proud).
By threatening to withhold federal funding unless states sign on to common core standards, the FED (to use Harry Reid's terminology) is guilty of extortion. Contrary to what proponents would have you believe, common core curriculum is NOT the fruit of state collaboration. It was written by Achieve, Inc. with lavish funding from private foundations.
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The Race to the Top application came out in November 2009. Applications were due 2 months later. Deep into the great recession and desperate for money, states had to decide whether to adopt common core standards in order to apply. Conveniently, during the months of November and early January, most state legislatures are not in session. Many state officials had to make this decision without consulting their legislatures; I’m sure Malloy would have been chomping at the bit regardless.
The standards were finally released (June 2010), and state commitments were required in August. That gave each state two summer vacation months in which to get their school boards to sign off on common core adoption (with no involvement by the legislature).
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States who agree to this power grab may not change the curriculum and may only add 15% to any of the subject areas.
It’s out of our hands. The parents no longer have control over their children’s education.
Why not home school? Well, thanks to provisions in the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), home schooling your children is a “high risk” scenario that will target you for forced home inspections by the federal government. WHAAAAT? Look it up. Smoking cigarettes will also paint a target on your door. Home inspections are non-negotiable. These, you cannot opt out of.
What we can opt out of is common core testing. This will send a strong message to our state officials.
I for one will not stand for this intrusion into my life and I certainly will not allow my children’s lives to be dictated to them by the federal government.
