HAYNES: Will Texas Lawmakers Adopt Common Core Student Assessments?

Part 3 of a Technology in the Classroom" Series: Texas lawmakers are required by law to establish an accountability program that aligns with Texas Standards By Carole Hornsby Haynes Ph.D. Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas  The 84^th Texas Legislature House Bill 2804 created the Texas Commission on Next Generation Assessments & Accountability (NGAA) to prepare recommendations for statutory changes for the Student Assessment & Public School Accountability Programs. An analysis finds that if these recommendations are implemented Texas curriculum standards will be Common Core-compliant placing Texas on the road to National Assessments.   Dumbed down national curriculum standards national curriculum and national test were the requirements of Goals 2000.  This was one of three federal laws passed during the Clinton Administration that replace the American free market economy with a system that concentrates power in the federal government to centrally plan and manage our economy.

This system adopts the failed ideas of a state planned economy similar to those of the former Soviet Union.

Although the Commission claims Common Core is not recommended their recommendations cannot be implemented without employing Common Core and/or Common Core-aligned materials and instruction. 

The Commissions August 31 2016 Report includes implementing requirements forced on states by the unconstitutional federal law Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).  Despite the Commissions willingness to implement ESSA in Texas under the 10^th Amendment the federal government has no authority to allow a state" or to require a state" to do anything in education. Commissions Recommendations:

1. Competency-Based Education (CBE)

CBE will replace academic education with a psychologically manipulative teaching strategy that is Common Core-compliant.  This personalized" approach is computerized learning for lower level workforce programs and psychological/behavioral skills.  The academically enriched"-- watered down -- workforce training will result in the literacy rate of students dropping even further. According to Paul Thomas author about public educational methods

Teaching is a human experience… Technology is a distraction when we need literacy numeracy and critical thinking."

2. Expand Digital Learning

Texas Insider reported the pitfalls of digital devices:

• Lower Scores on Computerized Assessments
• Lower Reading Comprehension
• Shallow Reading
• Distraction
• Negative Impact on Social & Emotional Skills and
• Screen Addiction from Video Games and Screen Technologies (akin to Heroin Addiction").

A North Carolina study found that the more E-Rate funding a school received under the federal governments 1996 Telecommunications Act the worse its students performed. Google executive Alan Eagle told the New York Times theres no need to rush children into technology.

It is super easy.  Its like learning to use toothpaste."  He believes kids can figure out technology when they are older. At Google and all these places we make technology as brain dead easy to use as possible."

3. Implement Computer Adaptive Assessments (CAA)

The Commission wants to implement online tests given throughout the year.  Research shows students have lower scores on computerized assessments. Computer Adaptive Assessments can be used to change a students beliefs attitudes and values to a worldview and anti-national sovereignty being promoted by the United Nations for establishing a one world government. These Computer Adaptive Assessments tests can be aligned with SBOE unapproved instructional materials including Common Core materials paid with state funds allowed under Texas Senate Bill 6. Because these tests will be given during the regular class schedule parents will not be able to opt their children out.

4. Adopt Challenging Academic Standards that Align to College & Career Readiness"

The Commission has no obligation" to implement this ESSA requirement because the federal government has no authority to require a state to adopt any standards.  ESSAs statement of purpose is clearly a euphemism for Common Core Standards.  The U.S. Congress did not get rid of Common Core; they codified it in ESSA. If ESSA is implemented in Texas then Common Core -- or a reasonable imitation under a different name -- will be implemented in Texas.

5. Adopt Alternate Accountability Tests

The Commission suggests using SAT ACT Advanced Placement International Baccalaureate and Aspire as alternatives to the STAAR / End of Course tests.  These tests are aligned with Common Core NOT with Texas Curriculum Standards. Texas politicians are doing a knee-jerk reaction to public demand to eliminate the STAAR / End of Course tests that measure a students knowledge of the Texas standards. As Texas Insider has reported the real problem is wasting class time with Common Core type group-think projects and social engineering allowing teachers very little time to teach the subject content of the standards. Teachers must conduct crash courses" to help their students memorize material.

6. Align the State Accountability System with ESSAs Requirements

The federal government has NO authority to require Texas to align our accountability program with ESSAs requirements. Texas lawmakers are required by law to establish an accountability program that aligns with Texas Standards not ESSAs Common Core College & Career Readiness" Standards.

7. Explore Obtaining an Innovative Assessment-Accountability Demonstration Authority Grant under ESSA

This is illegal since ESSA prohibits this funding. The U.S. Department of Education is using its proposed regulations for the Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority (IADA) to establish a National Assessment Aligned to Common Core Standards. Texas legislators must steer clear of this radical IAADA grant completely. Conclusion: The Texas Assessment & Accountability Program for public education is desperately in need of a major overhaul.  However if the Texas legislators adopt the August 31 2016 recommendations of the NGAA Commission our public education will be radically changed forever following that of California. What You Can Do:  Call Governor Abbott  (512) 463-2000 and contact legislators in both the Texas House and the Texas Senate 

• Tell them to vote NO on the August 31 2016 NGAA Recommendations
• Tell them to require a new plan that is academic based not Common Core-aligned.

Additional articles by Carole Hornsby Haynes include:

• Part 2 of a Technology in the Classroom" Series: CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY: RESEARCH INCREASINGLY SHOWS NO MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENT
• Part 1 of a Technology in the Classroom" Series: ARE TEXAS LAWMAKERS FUNDING DIGITAL HEROIN FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN?
• TEXAS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TURNS BACK COMMON CORE EFFORT STANDS FIRM ON ENGLISH STANDARDS
• COMMON CORE FACTION TRIES TO TAKE OVER TEXAS ENGLISH STANDARDS
• HAYNES: IS THERE A SOLUTION TO THE STAAR PROBLEM?
• Part 5:  COMMON CORE MATH IN TEXAS: TEXAS MATH SCORES DROP WORST IN U.S. SAYS EXPERT
• Part 4:  COMMON CORE MATH IN TEXAS? AND WHY HAS THE SBOE DONE NOTHING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE?
• Part 3:  COMMON CORE MATH IN TEXAS: IS THERE A SOLUTION FOR THE MATH STANDARDS SHIPWRECK? 
• Part 2:  COMMON CORE MATH IN TEXAS? DID THE TEA OVERSTEP ITS AUTHORITY ON MATH CURRICULUM STANDARDS?
• Part 1:  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?

Follow Dr. Carole Haynes at www.drcarolehhaynes.com and on Twitter at CaroleHHaynes.