Mercedes Schneider continúes her close reading of the Senate reauthorization bill, crafted by Republican Senator Lamar Alexander and Democratic Senator Patti Murray. This is part three. The others are linked inside her post.
You will find this an interesting post. You will see that the bill penalizes states that cut their education budget by more than 10%; that it allows but doesn’t mandate merit pay; that it includes a big loophole for Teach for America; and much more.
Mercedes is going through this bill line-by-line. Members of Congress would learn much by reading her reports.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Dr. Schneider, you are fabulous.
I honestly suspect that the majority of Representatives will sign and approve WITHOUT a close reading, left alone if they really prepare to fully engage for any implication.
For example, it strikes me to read:
[start quote]
Section 1203 is entitled, “Innovative Assessment and Accountability Demonstration Authority,” is an invitation for up to 5 states to apply to develop new, “innovative” assessment systems over an “initial period” of 3 years (with a possible 2-year renewal) as approved by the US secretary of education. The “innovative” systems must lead to “improved academic outcomes, including increased high school graduation rates for high schools” (pg. 173), and LEAs serving to pilot the “innovative” system may use it as a substitute for the annual assessments being used by the rest of the state (pg. 182). If the “innovative” system is deemed to be a success, then an entire state could use it to replace previously-approved annual assessments (pg. 184).
[end quote]
PLEASE BE AWARE OF THREE PHRASES BELOW:
…over an “initial period” of 3 YEARS (with a possible 2-YEAR RENEWAL) as APPROVED by the US SECRETARY OF EDUCATION.
…the “INNOVATIVE” system may use it as a substitute for the annual assessments being USED BY THE REST OF A STATE
If the “INNOVATIVE” system is deemed to be a success, then an entire state could use it to REPLACE PREVIOUSLY-APPROVED annual assessments
If we can tacitly replace “INNOVATIVE” with whatever will be just like CCSS, RttT, SBAC… but in new innovative name, as long as PEARSON and GATES still gain profit from US Public Education Fund. Of course, with the approval of whoever will be in the position of US SECRETARY OF EDUCATION.
It is a big joke on US DEMOCRACY and a severe insult to all US intelligent scholars, educators, and US citizens that Cuomo in NY State and R. Emmanuel in Chicago easily win their seats not once but twice regardless of their destructive governing style (= ignore and bully the poor, but support the rich!)
In short, local teachers are the ONLY RESOURCE to preserve the spirit of LIBERTY in children and their parents. Please do not put up the fight for what is right because God and Angels will always be on your side for health and for sickness. Back2basic
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sorry, I meant ”please do not GIVE UP the fight”, but I type “‘give up”.
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hahaha, what a night, I give up. please be kind to put up with my typo.
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I have written posts on the content of the Alexander-Murray draft up to page 428 (out of 601). Links to my four previous posts can be found in this one, my fifth, focused on Title V– charters:
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