Sunday, February 23, 2014

Update on senate bill



Thank you all for your time and energy in reaching out to the legislature regarding SB 619 and AB 617.  I know that many people made calls, forwarded my initial email, and made their voices heard.  Several things have happened since I wrote, and I'd like to update you on them and make another call to action.

On Wednesday, Assembly Bill 617 was amended to match Senate Bill 619, which in brief is the bill intended to create a legislatively-appointed board to create new model academic standards.  On Thursday, the Assembly Education Committee indefinitely tabled consideration of the bill, but it could be reconsidered at any time (and I understand it is likely to be brought back next week).  There is still some significant push behind bringing this bill to a vote.  I do believe that our efforts in part slowed down this process and gave us more time and opportunity to be heard.

Erin Richards, the excellent reporter at the education desk of the Journal Sentinel, managed to uncover who is behind this bill.  According to her story, the bill was drafted by the Walker administration, in consultation with legislators, and was handed to Senator Vukmir for introduction. See story here:http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/standards21-b99209908z1-246343221.html

Tony Evers, on Wednesday, issued a call to action, describing the bill and its impact. Watch his 3 minute message here:

Senator Paul Farrow, in response, wrote a scathing open letter to Dr. Evers with a number of stern accusations.  I'm attaching that memo.  In it, he cited NEA opposition to the Common Core, in the form of a letter from NEA President Van Roekel.  You can read his letter here, which is in my view inaccurately represented in Senator Farrow's letter.

We also know that Representative Theisfeldt was instrumental in not only bringing the Assembly bill into line, but leaking the details to the Common Core opposition (Stop Common Core in Wisconsin Facebook group) to ramp up support.

Finally, DPI's attorneys has reviewed the bill and weighed in on the implications. They concur that the bill as written gives the legislature the power to set standards. See memo attached.

We are still at risk and we need to make our voices heard. 
Here is my request for action.
-Read the bills and the supporting documents I've linked here.  Also read Senator Farrow's memo and my annotations in red with rebuttal points (link below), and the DPI legal memo on the implications (link below).
-Contact your senator and representative again.  My own were completely uninformed about the two bills when I called on Wednesday.
-Make two more calls if you can to members of the Senate and Assembly Education Committees.  (If you can contact them all, contact them all.)  Links below.
-Distribute this information far and wide.

I've drafted a set of talking points that you may find useful in crafting your argument (link below).  At the end are some questions that we should be asking of any legislator we talk to, and encouraging others to ask.  Calls are best, but if you can't call, emails are an excellent option. I know you are all very busy people and you may not have time to set aside to make the calls.  Many offices now have the ability to take voice messages, so you may be able to get some work done on this over your weekend.

Please don't hesitate to contact me with questions.  Remember also that DPI, by rule, cannot lobby for this, so our colleagues at the Department are counting on us to be their voice in this fight.

Have a great weekend, and thank you for all that you do for the children of Wisconsin.
-Mike

Links to resources:

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Michael D. Steele
Associate Professor, Mathematics Education
Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

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