Recent Articles
The Common Core Report Card
One of the surprise issues in this year’s Republican Primary has been Common Core. Out of all the candidates who supported the newest education reform package, the only one still in the race is Governor Kasich, who’s chances of winning seem very slim. Senator Cruz has a long standing records of opposing Common Core and Donald […]
Common Core Does NOT Equal Excellence
(Washington, D.C.) – The American Principles Project Foundation has just published a new report, “Common Does Not Equal Excellent.” Focusing on the K-8 Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSS-M), authors Erin Tuttle and J.R. Wilson provide evidence that the CCSS-M’s dictation of an instructional approach blurs the line between standards and curriculum. The standards […]
NGSS, Not This Year
Mila Wood received the following email from Senator Steven Thayn regarding the Next Generation Science Standards’ future in Idaho: Mila: It looks like the science standards will be rejected and reworked next year with hearings to take input. As far as the total federal funds for education it is $260.2 million which includes colleges […]
The Establishment Strikes Back
By Mary Ollie “The Establishment Strikes Back” sums up the goings on in West Ada. Concerned Citizens of West Ada School District for Trustee Recall has begun an initiative to recall four school board members. The group which includes Christine Donnell and Reid Olsen, West Ada former superintendent and former board member respectively, and […]
School Boards Represent Parents or Government?
When you voted for your school board members did you elect them to represent you or the federal government? I’ll bet you thought they represented you, huh? Well, it seems that some school boards feel their responsibility is to answer to the federal government first… and parents second. The Pocatello/Chubbuck School district is leading that charge. They recently submitted a resolution to the […]
National Coalition Speaks Out Against ESEA Reauthorization
Several Idaho Groups signed on to this letter. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 13, 2015 In a coast to coast effort, parent and citizen groups, resisting the national and federal takeover of standards, testing, curriculum, and student data collection via Race to the Top and Common Core standards, are loudly voicing their concerns and opposition to […]
Eight County Hearings Scheduled
In August this letter along with enough signatures from eight counties was sent to the Idaho State Department of Education. Dear State Board of Education and State Department of Education, The citizens listed in the following signature pages are asking for a public hearing in regards to the proposed rules regarding education in : […]
Call Congress TODAY!!!
I have been out of town so I am late in posting this. Please take a moment to call Representatives Labrador and Simpson, tell them to please vote no on this legislation. TODAY!!! While you’re at it, you can use the same phone number to contact Senators Risch and Crapo. Ask them to vote no […]
Free Market Education Is Not What Charter Schools Offer
Many people see charter schools as the answer to many of the ills our public school system faces. They’ve been promoted and upheld as filling the need for parental choice in education. Before I begin, I feel the need to give you a little of my background regarding charters. In the recent past, I was […]
Bullying Tactics
By Stacey Knudsen The SBAC (ISAT 2.0) testing is upon us! Parents tried very hard with the help of Representative Nate to get a bill, similar to other states that would have allowed us to opt-out of this test. This bill did not even receive a fair hearing. It was blocked in two different committees […]
