How and why could that happen when Common Core is illegal in Texas?
In Part I of this series we explored why Dr. James Milgram (right) one of the national experts for the Texas Math Curriculum Standards review is so critical of Common Core. The only math content expert on the Common Core Validation Committee Milgram refused to approve the Core Math Standards because of their low expectations.
A major flaw according to Dr. Milgram is that Common Core math includes most -- but not all -- of Algebra I and about 50 of regular Algebra II as well a strange Geometry course." Professor Jason Zimba lead writer of Common Cores mathematics standards has admitted that Common Core prepares students only for a two-year college. When asked whether Common Core prepares students for a STEM career Zimba replied Not only not for STEM its also not for selective colleges."
Milgram is a world-renowned research mathematician and Professor Emeritus at Stanford who authored the California math standards considered the best in the nation. He reviewed both the first and second drafts of the Texas Math Curriculum Standards.
Writing a post in 2011 he stated that the second draft of the new standards shows every indication of being among the best if not the best state standards in the country….they are written to prepare students to both enter the workforce after graduation and to take calculus in college if not earlier." He was euphoric that they reflected the approaches to mathematics education used 
in high achieving countries.
However the Texas Education Agency staffers went in a totally different direction a direction that would include a Common Core format. It was at that point that Milgram walked away.
How did things go so wrong? The testimony of Niki Hayes at the September SBOE meeting provides a clue. Hayes author and former school principal and math teacher who sat on the math review panel for grades 3-5 went public about the unorthodox behavior of TEA staffers.
Ms. Hayes detailed notes of the July 14 2011 meeting of the TEA Review Committee reveal that TEA staffers had already planned before the meeting to include process" standards in the standards both separately as well as integrated into the content standards. Everly Broadway TEA director of mathematics curriculum announced to the committee that they were looking at Common Core for a format. She further added that STAAR tests would be redesigned to assess those math process standards along with content.
Math process standards tell teachers HOW to teach a serious violation of the Texas law. Under the Education Code standards can include only the framework for content (what is taught) not instructions for HOW" to teach the content.
Ms. Hayes testified that at another specially called meeting to discuss the organization of the introductions" within the new TEA document it was decided that the Common Core model for an introduction to each grade level would be followed. Hayes testified that the TEA Review Committee did not see the completed introduction" paragraphs until the afternoon of the last meeting date in 
October 2011.
The committee members were told that it was too late to suggest changes.
Process Standards in Introduction
Here are the TEAs process standards that precede each grade level.
(a) Introduction.
(2) The process standards describe ways in which students are expected to engage in the content. The placement of the process standards at the beginning of the knowledge and skills listed for each grade and course is intentional…. The process standards are integrated at every grade level and course….Students will select appropriate tools such as real objects manipulatives algorithms paper and pencil and technology and techniques such as mental math estimation number sense and generalization and abstraction to solve problems…. Students will display explain or justify mathematical ideas and arguments using precise mathematical language in written or oral communication. (emphasis added)
The introduction acknowledges that placement of the process standards at the beginning of Knowledge and Skills section is intentional. Thats because they used the Common Core format which focuses on process rather than facts. It is more important to show or tell how one arrives at an answer than whether the answer is correct. Students are penalized if they get a correct answer but dont show the correct process. If youre wondering why this is a highly significant issue consider this. Common Core math kids will be designing our future bridges and tall buildings yet correct mathematical solutions will not matter only what process they use to arrive at an answer. Public beware! Randy Houchins
a parent with two children in the Leander Independent School District and highly skilled engineer who uses math in his work argues that there are often several ways to solve a math problem and students should not be penalized as long as they know how to figure out the right answer.
Houchins has taken the entire 2014 and 2015 STAAR tests himself. Pointing to the stack of STAAR questions in his hand he shows a third grade math question that requires students to show six different ways to figure out a multiplication problem. This is to justify their answer.
Dr. Milgram says having to justify math ideas is the most idiotic thing hes ever seen in a set of standards." He contends that Youre Texas awfully close to Common Core with what you have now."
Process Standards in Content
Here is an excerpt from the Kindergarten standards showing integration of the process standards into the content telling teachers HOW to teach the content.
(b) Knowledge and skills.
(1) Mathematical process standards. The student uses mathematical processes to acquire and demonstrate mathematical understanding. The student is expected to:
(C) select tools including real objects manipulatives paper and pencil and technology as appropriate and techniques including mental math estimation and number sense as appropriate to solve problems; also
Charlie Garza who sat on the SBOE during the math review contends the math standards approved by the SBOE did not include the process standards. Ken Mercer also a Board member confirmed this.
According to long time SBOE member Geraldine (Tincy) Miller (right) the SBOE is solely responsible for approving the standards not the TEA. So then who at the TEA authorized the drafting of the Common Core math practices and integration into the content? Was it Everly Broadway?
Attorney General Greg Abbotts Ruling on Common Core
In June 2014 Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott issued an opinion on the use of Common Core Standards Initiative to teach Texas standards.
Texas school districts are required to provide instruction in the essential knowledge and skills at appropriate grade levels and pursuant to subsection 28.002 (b-3) of the Education Code they may not use the Common Core State Standards Initiative to comply with this requirement.
Abbott emphasized that even if there is an overlap school districts must not use the Common Core Standards to comply with the requirement to provide instruction in the essential knowledge and skills at appropriate grade levels." Abbots ruling was in response to those who wanted to justify their right to use Common Core aligned instructional materials because they claimed Common Core and the Texas Math TEKS are aligned. Cathy Moak Region 6 Education Service Center in Houston wrote that 68 of the math Common Core and math TEKS align at some point." Alignment at some point" can be anywhere" even though an important math concept may be taught in the TEKS in Grade 1 while that same math concept in the Common Core may not be introduced until Grade 3.
That is not alignment!
The TEA and Education Service Centers (creator of the left wing CSCOPE that still exists in Texas schools) are clearly pushing Common Core in Texas schools and as such are violating Texas law. They are overstepping their authority by meddling with the unauthorized delivery of curriculum standards.
In my next post Ill explore what can be done about the math standards shipwreck.
What you can do:
- Call or write your SBOE representative: uphold Texas law and remove the Common Core Process Standards from our Math TEKS during the November 16th meeting.
- Call or write your Texas State Legislators. Let them know you want to: 1.) Provide a strong academic foundation for our children instead of social engineering 2.) Penalize districts that use Common Core and 3.) Rein in the subterfuge of the TEA and hold its employees accountable for their actions in adding Common Core to our standards.
- COMMON CORE MATH IN TEXAS? WHY TEXAS SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT USE CENTRALIZED GOVERNMENT CONTROL
- WHY TEXAS MUST START EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
- WILL TEXAS STATE BOARD OF ED ADOPT COMMON CORE-COMPLIANT STANDARDS?
