Stephanie Simon reports at politico.com that Governor Bobby Jindal’s lawyer advised him he has the right to withdraw Louisiana from the Common Core and the federally-funded PARCC tests.
State Superintendent John White said in an interview that Jindal was wrong. He went even further and accused the governor of breaking the law: “State Superintendent John White has accused the governor of breaking the law, trampling the state constitution and crushing the dreams of low-income minority students by rejecting the Common Core and scrapping plans to give students new exams aligned to the standards.”
“White said his attorneys are reviewing the legal memo. His team is also working to compile reams of documentation about the state’s contacts with PARCC and its plans to administer the PARCC test — including invoices, contracts, meeting minutes, calendar entries, memos and emails.”
Jindal can’t fire White. White works for the state board of education. This is one of the most startling developments in the saga of the Common Core: a governor who signed the memorandum to adopt the Common Core and now wants out vs. the state superintendent, who is fighting to keep the Common Core and tests.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
John White has no PARCC contract that is the result of open bidding. He also has no contract directly between LDOE and PARCC.
He tried to splice PARCC into an existing contract with the vendor for the previous state assessments.
It doesn’t work that way, Johnny.
White clearly works for PARCC and not the citizens. This helps unmask the true purpose of reform and highlights the internecine fighting within both parties. CCSS are doomed.
White says Jindal “is crushing the dreams of low-income minority students by rejecting the Common Core and scrapping plans to give students new exams aligned to the standards.”
Really, so White thinks kids living in poverty dream of Common Core standards and hours and hours of bubble tests as their magic carpet out of poverty?
Is this guy from another planet and are most Americans that foolish to swallow this rubbish? I know there are fools out there—after all White is a living testament to that fact—but this is stretching reality to the extreme.
White really was thinking about the dumping of the CC as crushing HIS dreams–to be filthy rich.
I wish John Kasich, Governor of Ohio, would wake up in the morning and see that it is completely silly to test a 5th and 6th grader 40 hours online. But, when your governor is dancing with the devil (ALEC), he sees lots of money to be made for his buddies. Shame on Governor John Kasich and all of the state governors who think it is okay to test our children for 40 hours per year. I wish I could sit them down and make them take the tests that they are making my 11 and 12 year old students take. I bet Kasich and his evil friends would not like to sit for a total of 40 hours in a year. But, they don’t have to . . .and neither do their children – because they are all rich. It all makes me sick.
The chaos continues as we seek to leave every child behind or in a Charter School
Either way: more bad press for Gates’ CC, just what’s he’s been trying to avoid. White’s fight will backfire.
This is fascinating.
Let’s make popcorn and watch. Mint Juleps, anyone? It’s hot here in NY.
Jindal and White will devour each other, and either way, the privatization movement and the gross public-private partnership will be seen in an even worse light by the average public. . . . And that’s exactly where it should be seen. Their in-fighting will only heighten and magnify the monster they created and worshipped.
After all, it’s not about who is right or wrong; and it’s defintely NOT about education, equity, teaching and learning.
It’s about WHO gets to stay in power and use that power. This fight is little more than a vanity mirror for Jindal and White.
Godzilla and King Kong were amateurs compared to these two creatures. Big fire breathing monsters with fangs and claws and spikes and yet both very morally impotent, delfated, and about as useless as a series of wet lasagna noodles holding up the Golden Gate Bridge . . . .
Don’t separate them; just them have it out in a wrestling ring or a mud pen . . . .
Correction:
” . . . . just let them have it out . . .. “
This scenario is revolting. John White fights for corporate privatized. Jindal fights for himself and his donors. The people of LA suffer.
This Louisiana teacher is optimistic and embarrassed. Did our governor BJ change his opinion to enhance his political future (duh?)? Is White/BESE so drunk on privateer cocktails they will make our attorney friends rich fighting the battle (double duh?)?
Without Dianne Ravitch, Mercedes Schneider, Jason France, Lee Barrios and a few other brave souls, the Louisiana teachers would be dazed, confused and clueless. Our all-charter system here in New Orleans leaves every teacher at the mercy of their administration. The last day of school we can be informed that we do not have jobs next year. We dare not speak out against the insanity if we expect to remain employed.
Oh, how I miss the days when we could choose between Edwin Edwards (the crook) and David Duke (the devil). Now we must spend our summer watching this battle between BJ and JW/BESE knowing that our “scholars” will be sacrificed.
Will we be teaching to prepare them for LEAP or PARCC or WTF? Will we need to design two or three curriculum maps while we scramble to secure employment?
Would sign my name but I have a job interview tomorrow. Wish me luck.
New Mexico’s Secretary of Education Designee Skandera has publicly stated that she will force the use of Common Core and PARCC on the children and Teachers regardless of what anyone says. She does not care what Bill Gates says. Basically her good buddy Ex-Governor Jeb Bush from Florida is her mentor and she will do nothing to upset him. Of course, Jeb Bush came to New Mexico to help raise money for Governor Martinez’ re-election. Martinez would not want Skandera to upset Bush or any of his big money friends. Skandera will use the results of the PARCC as 50% of the Teacher evaluations. That is her goal and she will not back down regardless of the damage it will do to students, Teachers and the overall education system in New Mexico. I think she is to close to the big education corporation is the sky — Pearson out of London.
Here is a copy of the legal memorandum that is the subject of Stephanie Simon’s Politico piece, authored by Jindal’s lawyers.
http://www.gov.state.la.us/index.cfm?md=newsroom&tmp=detail&articleID=4601