Warriors Against the Core and Fed Ed, just yesterday you learned about those posing as helpful resources, but are really part of the CCSS Machine (Common Core State Standards). Their agenda boils down to a ‘Dangerous 3 Points: Data, Alignment, and Profit’. In today’s ‘From the Files’, we will look more posers, Pearson Publishing and the Foundation for Excellence in Education are among them. Why bother? As in yesterday’s article, since we are now officially in the era of the ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act), we MUST remain pro-active against those Dangerous 3 Points!
So, What is Being Pushed Now?
‘Shifting to digital education’, is one of their latest efforts. This is a ‘no brainer’ in the modern education reform. Why? It packs all 3 of the Dangerous Points in 1 punch.
There is even a dedicated Twitter handle for the movement, #ShiftToDigitalEd.
Let me clarify, the CCSS Machine member, Getting Smart website (all about education and technology) is where I learned about this. Pearson Publishing is sponsoring a five part blog series devoted to digital learning. Who is writing the blog? None other than CBE (Competency Based Education) guru, Tom Vander Ark. A huge CCSS Machine ‘poser’!
Here is an excerpt, “This blog is part one in a four part series–sponsored by Pearson Education–focused around the key indicators of success in a digital learning program. Throughout the series we will give details about the five “look fors” in online and blended environments.”
So HOW will VanderArk, Pearson, and other Digital Companies pull all this off?
1) Shared Vision for each student. “A graduate profile and a picture of learning.”
2) Involve the entire community. “Community conversations should consider how the world is changing, how jobs are changing, and how civic participation is changing. What’s really important for graduate success?” Houston (TX) ISD is given as one of the best examples of #1 and 2. See the write up: http://gettingsmart.com/2016/02/how-houston-schools-are-making-it-a-great-global-city/
3) Use the right systems, ask the right questions. See the screen shot:
To access the above guide where you can find out more about those Dangerous 3 Points lived out in real time across America: BLIG-3.0-FINAL Be sure to look for how, repeatedly, the Dangerous 3 Points are laid out. Infrastructure (meaning your phone lines and digital bandwidth); legislation to back improvements up (will line the pockets of those in charge); seeking funding to pay for the alignment to digital (means more student measuring, aka assessing), and so much more. Also, note all the other CCSS Machine member organizations and posers involved.
To read the rest of the entire blog post by VanderArk (where the above excerpts are from):
http://gettingsmart.com/2016/03/look-shared-vision-powerful-learning/
Below is the screen shot from the poser CCSS (now ESSA) Machine member, NGLC (Next Generation Learning Challenges) created for the best kind of students: digitally hooked, globally minded, and competently educated. (Can you immediately spot those Dangerous 3 Points in each of the NGCL’s model?)
So, Jeb Bush’s Foundation is in This Too?
Of course! Somehow I knew after he dropped out of the 2016 Presidential Race, we were not through with his meddling in education. We know, by research and a sold out media, just HOW connected to the CCSS Machine, the Foundation for Excellence in Education is!
In my opinion, the ESSA, has given the Foundation a new spark.
The latest (which also pack a 3-in-1-punch for America)? “Why Proficiency Matters”
There is also a dedicated website for this. But, be warned, you will be asked to share your location where you access it. (You do have an option to block your location, too.) Website:
http://whyproficiencymatters.com/
According to the information from the website, there are 5 reasons (which handily fit the 3-in-1 punch) we should have proficient students. They are a) education, b) preparedness, c) college, d) skills, and e) employment. The Foundation has combined reports to give you all these alarming figures. For example, 23% of students who take the Armed Forces exam (to join the military), fail. Manufacturers across America have 600,000 jobs and no skilled workers, and of course, the amount of money used in post-secondary education for remediation and lack of CCR (college/career readiness). You can find all the gloom and doom: http://whyproficiencymatters.com/about
(*Note: do you see the connection to higher education? Remember, the HEA (Higher Education Act) is coming up for re-authorization. The same CCSS Machine members who pushed the ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) will most definitely be pushing this! A huge selling point for the re-authorization will be student debt!!)
If you are curious as to what solution the Foundation offers, it is this: states setting assessment goals to match the NAEP. By doing so, states also are aligning the assessments to ‘Readiness’ (as in CCR)! See below:
When you visit the Foundation for Excellence in Education’s above pages, be sure to click on the ‘Resources’ tab. There will not be much to see, but you need to see what IS there. http://cqrcengage.com/excelined/WhyProficiencyMatters
To see the Facts the Foundation is basing the ‘Proficiency Matters’ campaign on: Facts-Sources-2015.11.02 (*Note: there are quite a few other CCSS Machine members cited as sources here.)
Other ‘Dangerous 3 Points’ the Foundation is pushing? Education Savings Accounts, Education Policy courses for all, and so much more. See: http://www.excelined.org/
Closing:
So there you have it, Warriors, MORE CCSS Machine members posing as helpful folks. Only they forget to add they are pushing alignment, data/digital, and money making opportunities for themselves. What does our nation get? The shaft, the damage, and the demise of our people.
Be sure to catch me on my Media Wednesday, 3/30/16. The day begins with Negdog Radio (FL), 347-843-4165, 10 am (EDT) to 12 noon. Then, in the afternoon, AL based City on a Hill will have a guest spot for me. (Watch my Twitter and Facebook for more information) Lastly, Women on the Wall (TX) and the national Warrior Call: 302-202-1110, code 702165, begins 8:30 pm (CDT). All 3 will be archived.
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