A Letter To The Editor: Anti Common Core

Below is an email that I sent the members of the Worcester County School Board on 8/21/14.

Fran Gebhart - Berlin, Md

Thought this may be helpful to use as a Anti­Common Core Template.

WHEREAS the Board of Education of Worcester County Public Schools, wish to express their concern regarding the development, selection, and implementation of both the Common Core State Standards and the PARCC Assessment Program.

WHEREAS the Board of Education is concerned with:

1. The increasing encroachment of the Federal Government on education issues at the State and local level.

2. The lack of local control over the development of standards and the selection of assessments that meet the needs and expectations of the local community.

3. The high costs associated with the PARCC assessment particularly associated with the need for new technology infrastructure and hardware.

4. The amount of instructional time lost to excessive assessment practices associated with the administration of PARCC assessments.

5. Continued unfunded mandates from the State of Maryland which are unduly burdensome on the taxpayers of Worcester County.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education 0f Worcester County, request that elected State officials carefully review, question, and oppose legislation that provides further appropriations for the development, implementation, field testing, or administration of the Common Core Standards and the PARCC assessment program by supporting the implementation of State Standards and Assessments that are TESTED, PROVEN and EFFECTIVE.