Gee! What’s All The Fuss! What’s So Bad About Education? In One Word? Markell.

• The high-stakes testing environment which has culminated in the Smarter Balanced Assessment
• The lost school-time based on test prep and interim assessments
• The penalties to schools and teachers over low-scores in our high-needs schools
• The hundreds of millions of dollars that have gone to outside companies instead of into our schools
• The extreme amount of interference from companies without educators who think they know how to “fix” education
• The lack of transparency from the State of Delaware with the Smarter Balanced Assessment
• Regulations inserted into code without any legislative input by the State Board of Education
• The very structure of the Smarter Balanced Assessment
• American Institutes for Research as the testing vendor for Smarter Balanced
• Classroom sizes that are way too big and even the most advantaged children are not able to learn
• Schools with low demographics of sub-groups being labeled as “Recognition” or “Reward” schools
• Schools with high demographics of sub-groups being labeled as “Focus” or “Priority” schools
• The lack of true stakeholder input in the creation of standardized assessments
• The complete and utter disregard by Governor Markell in failing to listen to parents and the legislators of Delaware with his veto of House Bill 50
• The continued bullying and intimidation of parents by districts or charter schools when they give an opt-out letter
• The charter schools even giving a hint that students may not get a spot or won’t be able to keep their spot over opt-out
• The Common Core implementation and many disturbing aspects in it that have nothing to do with education
• The lack of oversight over special education in our schools and listening to parents
• Regulation 103 and it’s punitive measures against students, teachers, schools, and communities

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