Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Article on development of common core

Okay, that's really bad. I remember reading about that now, but at the time, didn't know that the Gates Foundation had put so much money into the Common Core. What the passport were they thinking? Talk about a predictable outcome.

But still, I don't think that the people who actually wrote the standards were being influenced by Pearson. I hope not, anyway.

Diane Ravitch wrote a blog for Common Dreams regarding the Washington Post article on the influence of the Bill Gates and his foundation with the Common Core and the need for congress (or someone with a pulse) to investigate it - http://www.commondreams.org/view/2014/06/09-1

Bear in mind, Ravitch was first a supporter of Common Core under Bush Jr. but has since reversed course and become a strong opponent of it.

The amount of money connected to the Common Core, textbooks or digital technology, and testing is absolutely staggering and leaves little doubt in my mind that Pearson and other big corporations have played a role. IF you follow the news on EdSurge (https://www.edsurge.com/), you'll see and weep; of course, remembering that EdSurge is only source for EdTech news and developments and only reports what's disclosed publicly (and not everything is being reported publicly). It's really scandalous. A total rape and pillage on public schools with little to show for it.

It's a big problem for school's to find curriculums that really are common core aligned. Many companies have just slapped stickers on slightly different packages, but it's still the same old stuff...

http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2014/06/03/318228023/the-common-core-curriculum-void

There's so little selection for material that ACTUALLY fits the standards, I'm not sure if schools even have the option for looking at materials that are aligned and GOOD. It seems to be an either/or situation.