Flyer For Alabama To Repeal Common Core

 Common Core Flyer Back Page

Proponents of Common Core Talking Points of More "Rigor" --Debunked--Parents Need To Do Their Homework--Quit Being Brainwashed!

COMMON CORE:  A Cookie-Cutter, One-Size-Fits All Education Standards 
By Sharon Sewell 
Director, Alabamians United for Excellence in Education (http://www.auee.org)

This article responds to unfounded claims made in a joint OpEd written by State Board of Education Members Mary Scott Hunter of Huntsville and Tracey Roberts of Mobile.

Their OpEd reveals a naiveté about the meaning of the current presidential administration’s description of Common Core as a “revolution” to help in the “battle for social justice”, as well as the role of special interests which want to exploit our children to make billions of dollars.  The education of our children should not be controlled by the Far Left which sees classrooms as laboratories for indoctrination at taxpayer expense, or by special interests which see students as a source for profit. 

Common Core is just the latest but well-disguised ploy to federalize education and take our Tenth Amendment rights.   By chaining our children to Common Core, the state board of education has fundamentally changed our education system without the knowledge or consent of legislators, parents, and taxpayers.  The following is a rebuttal to the OpEd by Board Members Hunter and Tracey.

The Common Core State Standards Initiative does not strengthen but dumbs down education standards 

• Math:  Common Core math standards do not meet the recommended content targets of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel, of leading states, or international competitors. As a result, students are not prepared for four-year colleges but for two-year nonselective community colleges.  Dr. James Milgram of Sanford University, a mathematician, warns us that graduating students will be two years behind other countries in math skills. 
• English Language Arts:  Education experts warn that reading levels for seniors will be reduced to what is currently 7^th grade.   Authors of “Why the Common Core is Bad for America” write:  “The Common Core ‘college readiness’ ELA standards can best be described as skill sets, not fully developed standards.  As such, they cannot point to readiness for a high school diploma or four-year college coursework …. The ELA Common Core Standards will impair the preparation of students for competing in a global economy.”  

Alabama does not control its standards or its curriculum

• Alabama Standards:  Hunter and Roberts want us to believe that “Alabama Standards” are different from Common Core standards.  They are, in fact, one and the same.  Common Core is a one-size-fits-all for all states, all schools, and all students.  Alabama must adopt 100% of Common Core standards, cannot change or delete anything, and may allow only a small amount of additional content, which won’t be covered on national tests.  All one has to do to understand how “specific Alabama Standards” consist of a mere 2.5% in English Language Arts and 14% in Math, and all the rest is Common Core, is to link to Alabama standards at https://docs.alsde.edu/documents/54/1%202010%20Alabama%20English%20Language%20Arts%20Course%20of%20Study.pdf and 2010 Alabama Mathematics Course of Study.pdf.
• Alabama Curriculum:  Alabama’s curriculum is controlled by Common Core standards.  This is abundantly clear when you read the legal documents and implementation plan.   Curricula, assessments, everything, must be aligned to Common Core. 

Common Core does not offer more “rigor”

Education experts have dispelled the notion that Common Core has more “rigor”.  Some of us joke that Common Core is “rigor mortis”.  It stifles innovation, creativity, and flexibility. 

The federal government requires the state to collect non-academic information on students and to track them from preschool to retirement

The federal government by law is not allowed to maintain a national database on students, so the U.S. Department of Education requires states to collect information to be used by federal agencies and private organizations.  Recently, Ms. Hunter stated that the Federal Privacy and Family Protection Act prevents highly personal information from being collected and shared.  Apparently she’s unaware that President Obama expanded the interpretation of this law, effective January 3, 2012, and weakened student protections. The bill to repeal Common Core restores privacy protection for Alabama students.

The Common Core Initiative was not state-led

Common Core standards were developed by special interest groups and led by vendors who stand to make substantial profits off our children.  The bulk of the work was done by Achieve, Inc., a D.C.-based nonprofit, associated with the Far Left education reformers such as Bill Ayers, Marc Tucker and Linda Darling-Hammond, who have advocated for federalized education for decades.  These efforts have been repeatedly and resoundingly rejected by the public and Congress.  

This time is different because the creators of Common Core found a “cover” to end-run Congress and develop standards outside the public meetings act.  This cover was the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CSSO), two trade associations, which have no legislative authority to act on behalf of states. Massive funding came from private interests such as the Gates Foundation.  Bill Gates expects to spend about $380 million to get states to adopt Common Core.  He will make billions off this “investment”.  

Special interests, in concert with the Obama Administration, rushed states to adopt Common Core before the public could catch on, rise, and resist.  Informed elected officials should not be complicit in these lawless actions that invade student privacy, take away parental control and states rights, and will cost Alabama taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.  Only Gov. Bentley, Stephanie Bell and Betty Peters voted to withdraw from Common Core.  Now it’s up to the Alabama legislature to protect our children’s privacy and preserve our education freedom under the Tenth Amendment. 

According to a 2002 Alabama Supreme Court decision, “The Alabama Constitution vests the duty to provide for public education ‘squarely upon the shoulders of the Legislature.”  (Ex-parte James, 836 S. 3d. 813 at 85).  The Alabama Legislature has repeatedly instructed the state board of education in matters dealing with standards and curricula. Legislators are now our last line of defense, and it is their duty to protect our children and their future, as well as Alabama values and states rights.  They have an opportunity to prove that checks and balances work in Alabama, though not in Washington, D.C. The Legislature must repeal Common Core this year.  Next year will be too late!  A Republican super-majority should assure a rapid repeal.

Alabamians Can Only Get Out of Common Core Through HB254 and SB190--Don't Get It Confused With Flexibility Act as HB84 Can Not Undo Common Core--Use This Email List Before Too Late

List of Alabama Legislators with E-mails and Phone Numbers are below --please tell them to say NO To Common Core Standards.  Representatives must support House Bill--HB254.  Senators must support Senate Bill--SB190 to get us out of Common Core Standards!  Print and Share with friends, family, churches etc. Act now as 2014 too late! 
(click on this link with your zip code and find your legislators)
 ..http://capwiz.com/state-al/dbq/zs.dbq?dir=state-al&state=al&azip=36344&bzip=(

• Tips on contacting House.  They are in their districts on Mon and Fridays and in Montgomery Tues-Thurs.  You can call and leave a message at (334) 242-7600 and tell who answers you would like to give a message to the committee member--this is a great way as they will get that message to the member if you are calling them on Tues or Thurs.  If you call Wednesday--they are in committee meetings so call the committee clerk and give her a message. 
  Committee Clerk: Karen Reeves
  (334) 242-7251

House Education Policy Committee:  Chair; Mary Sue McClurkin, Vice Chair; Phil Williams, Ranking Minority Member; Marcel Black

Elaine Beech, Mac Buttram, Ed Henry, Thomas Jackson, Joseph Mitchell, Kerry Rich, David Sessions, Lesley Vance

Subcommittees

Higher Education

Phil Williams, Chair; Marcel Black, Ed Henry, Joseph Mitchell, Allen Treadaway, Lesley Vance, David Sessions.

K - 12

Lesley Vance, Chair; Elaine Beech, Mac Buttram, Ed Henry, Thomas Jackson, David Sessions, Phil Williams.

______________________________

• Tips on contacting Senate.  They are in their districts on Mon and Fridays but in Montgomery Tues-Thurs.  You can call (334) 242-7800 to be transferred or call their individual numbers listed below as each Senator has a secretary that can take a message to the committee member--Tues or Thurs.  If you call Wednesday--they are in committee meetings you may also call the committee clerk and give her a message.  Clerk--Micheele O'Connor (334) 242-7896.

Senate Education Policy Committee:

Brewbaker, Chairperson--334-242-7895;Ross, Vice Chairperson 334-242-7880 ;

Allen--334-242-7889, Blackwell-- 334-242-7851, Figures--334-242-7871,Holtzclaw--334-242-7854  , McGill--334-242-7858
, Pittman--334-242-7897, Sanders--334-242-7860

 

• Please send emails
• Please pass on information as we don't have much time.

So please help it is not hard and parents and teachers need to fight this to have input over education standards vs being under Washington control  Here is a list of resources the enemy do not want you to know and the majority of the mainstream media has kept hidden!! 

Remember Obama is interest in passing the allah is god curriculum that was just found out in Texas.  The plans of this administration was already voiced by Kevin Jenning --(more in this link).

"Right now, they're really focused on the academic standards. This one is much newer. We have to build understanding of the concept first." He went on: "We're not first up to bat, and I'm not troubled by that. The Common Core movement is right to start on the things where there's already widespread agreement. We're way down the road."

Seriously? A high-ranking administration official is telling us that the common standards being financed by $350 million in Race to the Top funds "start" with academics but will eventually encompass "school climate" standards too? Jennings raises further red flags when he concedes that we have not determined "the definition of school climate," though he says it "does not include air conditioning" but does include kids feeling "emotionally safe." Maybe it's my cynical streak, but that sounds like a summons to social agendas, culture clashes, and political fisticuffs. In other words, the stuff that sinks standards.

Mr. Jennings' remarks raise concerns about the old bait-and-switch. If he is speaking for Secretary Duncan and the President, they seem to have been less than truthful so far when discussing their vision for common standards. If not, a President seeking bipartisan comity might want to encourage Mr. Jennings not to suggest that the Department is covertly planning to drive a massive 48-state effort into a familiar ditch...or to turn it into a Trojan Horse."---

and with Arne Duncan as head of Education who pushed for Chicago to have their first gay high school---how can parents in Alabama afford to be ignorant..

If you don't know who your representative is use this link:

No other bill can give local control but HB254 and SB190 as anything else including HB84 called the Flexibility Act should not be confused to give parents local control and must be passed in this session as 2014 is too late. Read the bills for yourself.  Here is link to removing Common Core Bills (HB254 and SB190 and HB84-Flex Act on very end of article). Of outmost priority is to get HB254 to get out of Education Commmittee to be allowed to be voted on.  Please call and or email your below legislators and you must contact each Education Comittee members so the bill does not die.   Bills to supposedly give local control have been misused see this link so we need to compare first.  But  First things first--get out of Common Core and then we can work to make other bills to make it better but please put passing HB254 and SB190 a priority today as otherwise parents will no longer have control of their children's education in 2014.  Remember legislature ends in May so make this pass now by making your voice heard.  Please share.

 To see phone numbers better please click on share  or printer friendly links below--as it will make all of the numbers show up better.

Phone Numbers and Emails of Legislators:

_______________________

Phone Numbers for Alabama Senate

Senate:
KAY IVEY     Lieutenant Governor
DEL MARSH     President Pro Tempore
D. PATRICK HARRIS     Secretary
    


Senator     Party     District     Room #     Office Phone
ALLEN, Gerald     (R)     21     729     334-242-7889
BEASLEY, Billy     (D)     28     737     334-242-7868
BEASON, Scott     (R)     17     726     334-242-7794
BEDFORD, Roger     (D)     6     738     334-242-7862
BLACKWELL, Slade     (R)     15     733     334-242-7851
BREWBAKER, Dick     (R)     25     734     334-242-7895
BUSSMAN, Paul     (R)     4     729     334-242-7855
COLEMAN, Linda     (D)     20     735     334-242-7864
DIAL, Gerald     (R)     13     732     334-242-7874
DUNN, Priscilla     (D)     19     737     334-242-7793
FIELDING, Jerry     (R)     11     735     334-242-7898
FIGURES, Vivian Davis     (D)     33     736     334-242-7871
GLOVER, Rusty     (R)     34     721     334-242-7886
HOLLEY, Jimmy     (R)     31     732     334-242-7845
HOLTZCLAW, Bill     (R)     2     731     334-242-7854
IRONS, Tammy     (D)     1     737     334-242-7888
KEAHEY, Marc     (D)     22     738     334-242-7843
MARSH, Del     (R)     12     722      334-242-7877
McGILL, Shadrack     (R)     8     731     334-242-7858
ORR, Arthur     (R)     3     730     334-242-7891
PITTMAN, Trip     (R)     32     730     334-242-7897
REED, Greg     (R)     5     734     334-242-7894
ROSS, Quinton T., Jr.     (D)     26     735     334-242-7880
SANDERS, Hank     (D)     23     736     334-242-7860
SANFORD, Paul     (R)     7     731     334-242-7867
SCOFIELD, Clay     (R)     9     731     334-242-7876
SINGLETON, Bobby     (D)     24     735     334-242-7935
SMITH, Harri Anne     (I)     29     740     334-242-7879
SMITHERMAN, Rodger     (D)     18     737     334-242-7870
TAYLOR, Bryan     (R)     30     733     334-242-7883
WAGGONER, J. T. "Jabo"     (R)     16     726     334-242-7892
WARD, Cam     (R)     14     719     334-242-7873
WHATLEY, Tom     (R)     27     733     334-242-7865
WILLIAMS, Phil     (R)     10     733     334-242-7857

 ______________

Phone Numbers for Alabama House of Representatives

Please note prefix for all their phone numbers is area code 334

 List

Alan Baker		Baldwin & Escambia		staterep@co.escambia.al.us			242-7720
Mike Ball		Madison		mikeball@knology.net			242-7683
Jim Barton		Mobile		jbarton104@gmail.com			242-7662
Richard Baughn		Tuscaloosa, Walker, & Winston		rgbups@yahoo.com			242-7593
Paul Beckman		Autauga & Elmore		paulbeckmanjr@yahoo.com			242-7662
Alan Boothe		Dale & Pike		alan.boothe@alhouse.gov			242-7710
DuWayne Bridges		Chambers & Lee		dwwayne.bridges@alhouse.gov			242-7708
K.L. Brown		Calhoun		klbrown@cableone.net			242-1778
Mack Butler		Etowah & St. Clair		mack.butler@alhouse.gov			242-7446
Mac Buttram		Cullman		mbuttram@att.net			242-7775
Jim Carns		Jefferson & Shelby		jwcarns@yahoo.com			242-7600
Donnie Chesteen		Geneva & Houston		dchesteen@panhandle.rr.com			242-7742
Steve Clouse		Dale & Houston		steve.clouse@alhouse.gov			242-7717
Terri Collins		Morgan		terri@terricollins.org			242-7693
Randy Davis		Baldwin & Mobile		rmdavis14@aol.com			242-7724
Paul DeMarco		Jefferson		paul@pljpc.com			242-7667
Dickie Drake		St. Clair & Jefferson		ddrake1080@aol.com			242-7727
Allen Farley		Jefferson		allenfarley@bellsouth.net			242-7767
Joe Faust		Baldwin		jfaust@co.baldwin.al.us			242-7699
Chad Fincher		Mobile		chad.fincher@alhouse.gov			242-7778
Victor Gaston		Mobile		hvgaston04@yahoo.com			242-7664
Lynn Greer		Lauderdale		lynn.greer@alhouse.gov			242-7576
Micky Hammon		Limestone & Morgan		mickyhammon@gmail.com			242-7709
Alan Harper		Pickens & Tuscaloosa		salanharper@gmail.com			242-7732
Ed Henry		Cullman & Morgan		ed.henry@alhouse.gov			242-7736
Mike Hill		Shelby		mhillcolum@aol.com			242-7715
Mike Hubbard		Lee		mike.hubbard@alhouse.gov			242-7668
Jamie Ison		Mobile		isonfor101@comcast.net			242-7711
Ken Johnson		Lawrence & Winston		kenjohnsonrep@gmail.com			242-7754
Ron Johnson		Coosa & Talladega		ron.johnson@alhouse.gov			242-7777
Wayne Johnson		Jackson & Madison		waynejohnson259@yahoo.com			242-7492
Mike Jones, Jr.		Covington & Escambia		mljatty@andycable.com			242-7739
Paul Lee		Houston		pwlee@graceba.net			242-7675
Wes Long		Marshall		weslong@mclo.org			242-7511
Jay Love		Montgomery		jlove32376@aol.com			242-7716
Barry Mask		Coosa & Elmore		barry.mask@alhouse.gov			242-7782
Jim McClendon		St. Clair & Shelby		jimmcc@windstream.net			242-7768
Mary Sue McClurkin		Jefferson & Shelby		marysue.mcclurkin@alhouse.gov			242-7682
Mac McCutcheon		Limsetone & Madison		c.mac.mccutcheon@gmail.com			242-7705
Steve McMillan		Baldwin		bcld07@gmail.com			242-7723
John Merrill		Tuscaloosa		john@tuscaloosagop.org			242-7554
Barry Moore		Coffe		barry@barrymooreindustries.com			242-7773
Becky Nordgren		Dekalb & Etowah		clearimagesal@earthlink.net			353-9032
Jim Patterson		Madison		jimpattersonhd21@gmail.com			242-7531
Bill Poole		Tuscaloosa		poole@gpr-law.com			242-7691
Kerry Rich		DeKalb & Marshall		kerryrich@mclo.org			242-7538
Bill Roberts		Walker		broberts1229@cs.com			242-7694
Howard Sanderford		Madison		howard.sanderford@alhouse.gov			242-4368
David Sessions		Mobile		d.r.sessions@att.net			242-0947
Harry Shiver		Baldwin, Conecuh, Escambia, & Monroe		harryshiver@aol.com			242-7745
David Standridge		Blount & Jefferson		david.standridge@alhouse.gov			242-7475
Allen Treadaway		Jefferson		bsketa@aol.com			242-7685
Mark Tuggle		Lee & Tallapoosa		tughd81@gmail.com			242-7219
Lesley Vance		Lee & Russell		lesley.vance@alhousegop.gov			242-7687
Kurt Wallace		Chilton & Shelby		reprentativewallace@gmail.com			242-7772
April Weaver		Bibb & Shleby		april.weaver@alhouse.gov			242-7731
Dan Williams		Limestone		dan.williams@alhouse.gov			242-7741
Jack Williams		Jefferson		jack@jackwilliams.org			242-7779
Phil Williams		Madison		philhouse44@gmail.com			242-7704
Randy Wood		Calhoun & St. Clair		randy.wood@alhouse.gov			242-7700
Greg Wren		Montgomery & Elmore		repgregwren@yahoo.com			242-7764

Common Core (National) Standards-Wolf In Sheep's Clothing--Share with Churches--Key Points From Prof Stotsky and Milgram Who Were On National Validation Committee of the Standards--They Were Troubled and So Should America

Alabama Parents, Grandparents, Teachers etc. can make your voice be heard if you want input over your children's educational standards vs Washington control.  No other bill out there in the State Legislature can give local control but HB254 and SB190 as anything else including HB54 called the Flexibility Act should not be confused to give parents local control.  Read the bills for yourself.  Here is link to removing Common Core Bills (HB254 and SB190) and the Flexibility Act HB54.  Of outmost priority is to get HB254 to get out of Education Commmittee to be allowed to be voted on.  Please call and or email your below legislators and contact each Education Comittee members.   Bills to supposedly give local control have been misused see this link.  First things first--get out of Common Core and then we can work to make other bills to make it better but please put passing HB254 and SB190 a priority today as otherwise parents will no longer have control of their children's education in 2014.  Remember legislature ends in May so make this pass now by making your voice heard.  Please share.  Go to bottom and see printer friendly or share links to read complete phone numbers.

Phone Numbers and Emails of Legislators:

Alan Baker		Baldwin & Escambia		staterep@co.escambia.al.us			334-242-7720
Mike Ball		Madison		mikeball@knology.net			334-242-7683
Jim Barton		Mobile		jbarton104@gmail.com			334-242-7662
Richard Baughn		Tuscaloosa, Walker, & Winston		rgbups@yahoo.com			334-242-7593
Paul Beckman		Autauga & Elmore		paulbeckmanjr@yahoo.com			334-242-7662
Alan Boothe		Dale & Pike		alan.boothe@alhouse.gov			334-242-7710
DuWayne Bridges		Chambers & Lee		dwwayne.bridges@alhouse.gov			334-242-7708
K.L. Brown		Calhoun		klbrown@cableone.net			334-242-1778
Mack Butler		Etowah & St. Clair		mack.butler@alhouse.gov			334-242-7446
Mac Buttram		Cullman		mbuttram@att.net			334-242-7775
Jim Carns		Jefferson & Shelby		jwcarns@yahoo.com			334-242-7600
Donnie Chesteen		Geneva & Houston		dchesteen@panhandle.rr.com			334-242-7742
Steve Clouse		Dale & Houston		steve.clouse@alhouse.gov			334-242-7717
Terri Collins		Morgan		terri@terricollins.org			334-242-7693
Randy Davis		Baldwin & Mobile		rmdavis14@aol.com			334-242-7724
Paul DeMarco		Jefferson		paul@pljpc.com			334-242-7667
Dickie Drake		St. Clair & Jefferson		ddrake1080@aol.com			334-242-7727
Allen Farley		Jefferson		allenfarley@bellsouth.net			334-242-7767
Joe Faust		Baldwin		jfaust@co.baldwin.al.us			334-242-7699
Chad Fincher		Mobile		chad.fincher@alhouse.gov			334-242-7778
Victor Gaston		Mobile		hvgaston04@yahoo.com			334-242-7664
Lynn Greer		Lauderdale		lynn.greer@alhouse.gov			334-242-7576
Micky Hammon		Limestone & Morgan		mickyhammon@gmail.com			334-242-7709
Alan Harper		Pickens & Tuscaloosa		salanharper@gmail.com			334-242-7732
Ed Henry		Cullman & Morgan		ed.henry@alhouse.gov			334-242-7736
Mike Hill		Shelby		mhillcolum@aol.com			334-242-7715
Mike Hubbard		Lee		mike.hubbard@alhouse.gov			334-242-7668
Jamie Ison		Mobile		isonfor101@comcast.net			334-242-7711
Ken Johnson		Lawrence & Winston		kenjohnsonrep@gmail.com			334-242-7754
Ron Johnson		Coosa & Talladega		ron.johnson@alhouse.gov			334-242-7777
Wayne Johnson		Jackson & Madison		waynejohnson259@yahoo.com			334-242-7492
Mike Jones, Jr.		Covington & Escambia		mljatty@andycable.com			334-242-7739
Paul Lee		Houston		pwlee@graceba.net			334-242-7675
Wes Long		Marshall		weslong@mclo.org			334-242-7511
Jay Love		Montgomery		jlove32376@aol.com			334-242-7716
Barry Mask		Coosa & Elmore		barry.mask@alhouse.gov			334-242-7782
Jim McClendon		St. Clair & Shelby		jimmcc@windstream.net			334-242-7768
Mary Sue McClurkin		Jefferson & Shelby		marysue.mcclurkin@alhouse.gov			334-242-7682
Mac McCutcheon		Limsetone & Madison		c.mac.mccutcheon@gmail.com			334-242-7705
Steve McMillan		Baldwin		bcld07@gmail.com			334-242-7723
John Merrill		Tuscaloosa		john@tuscaloosagop.org			334-242-7554
Barry Moore		Coffe		barry@barrymooreindustries.com			334-242-7773
Becky Nordgren		Dekalb & Etowah		clearimagesal@earthlink.net			334-353-9032
Jim Patterson		Madison		jimpattersonhd21@gmail.com			334-242-7531
Bill Poole		Tuscaloosa		poole@gpr-law.com			334-242-7691
Kerry Rich		DeKalb & Marshall		kerryrich@mclo.org			334-242-7538
Bill Roberts		Walker		broberts1229@cs.com			334-242-7694
Howard Sanderford		Madison		howard.sanderford@alhouse.gov			334-242-4368
David Sessions		Mobile		d.r.sessions@att.net			334-242-0947
Harry Shiver		Baldwin, Conecuh, Escambia, & Monroe		harryshiver@aol.com			334-242-7745
David Standridge		Blount & Jefferson		david.standridge@alhouse.gov			334-242-7475
Allen Treadaway		Jefferson		bsketa@aol.com			334-242-7685
Mark Tuggle		Lee & Tallapoosa		tughd81@gmail.com			334-242-7219
Lesley Vance		Lee & Russell		lesley.vance@alhousegop.gov			334-242-7687
Kurt Wallace		Chilton & Shelby		reprentativewallace@gmail.com			334-242-7772
April Weaver		Bibb & Shleby		april.weaver@alhouse.gov			334-242-7731
Dan Williams		Limestone		dan.williams@alhouse.gov			334-242-7741
Jack Williams		Jefferson		jack@jackwilliams.org			334-242-7779
Phil Williams		Madison		philhouse44@gmail.com			334-242-7704
Randy Wood		Calhoun & St. Clair		randy.wood@alhouse.gov			334-242-7700
Greg Wren		Montgomery & Elmore		repgregwren@yahoo.com			334-242-7764