Our Kids Deserve Better Than Common Core!

Over the past several months, I have been researching the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS) that Illinois has adopted, and that our school district is implementing.  As a result of that research, I have many questions/concerns about how these new standards will affect students, taxpayers, teachers and the parents of our state.  The CCSS are projected to cost Illinois over $700 million dollars.  If we don't like Common Core, there is no amendment process--we're locked in.  These standards are not state led.  The Dept. of Education committed $300 million to the creation of new tests for Common Core.  The CCSS were not approved through the legislative process, but were approved by the Illinois State Board of Education. The CCSS are copyrighted, and were developed by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The National Governors' Association, and the Council of Chief School Superintendent Officers.  These people stand to make a lot of money from the implementation of the CCSS.  States have to teach all of the standards given, cannot remove any standards, and can only add 15% to them.  A huge database will record massive amounts of information on our children ( bus stop locations, disciplinary actions, physical and mental health, religious affiliation, family voting history, and more) from preschool to age 20.  All of this information can be shared with government and private agencies without parental consent.  Under Common Core, "College Readiness" means preparation for a non-selective two year college, not a university. Classic Literature requirements will be reduced at least 50%, in favor of informational text.  The Common Core philosophy is that students should be trained as workers, not educated as human beings and citizen-leaders.  Geneva has a reputation for great schools!  My concern is that our "Tradition of Excellence" will be replaced by mediocrity.  There are currently about a dozen states who have paused their plans to implement CCSS, or are reviewing the standards, or have introduced legislation to repeal CCSS in their state.   PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!  Do your own research!  Spread the word!  Contact your representatives!  Ask questions!  We have to be advocates for our kids!  I presented this information to the Geneva School Board on Monday, July 22, 2013.  They had no response, and did not ask me any questions. I'm writing this to make parents aware of what is happening in our schools!  Our kids deserve better than Common Core!