opinion

Common Core shows power of cash

Today we introduce AJ Kern, the newest member of the Times Writers Group.

As Common Core standards gain a foothold in schools nationwide, opposition to the accompanying bombardment of teacher evaluations, testing, assessing, benchmarking, surveying and data mining may be the Achilles heel in the federalization of public education.

Implementation of the standards has created a very costly explosion in the demand of newly aligned curriculum, assessments, technology, computers, tablets, textbooks, teacher training and subsequent data analysis — which means big profits, leaving educational corporations and institutions drooling with elation.

Ironically, it also has spurred growing opposition by the masses, including teachers and superintendents. An "opt-out" movement is developing, which threatens centralized control and the crucial testing validation necessary in proving the data-driven federal standards actually work.

Corporate core

Bill Gates, Microsoft Corporation, signed a "cooperation agreement" with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on Nov. 17, 2004. This was an agreement to develop worldwide curricula reflecting UNESCO values.

The Gates Foundation subsequently donated over $100 million, funding the creation, adoption and implementation of the Common Core standards. To date it is well over $2 billion. In 2013, Gates gave $300,000 to the U.S. Department of Education.

Until now, I was unaware philanthropists were allowed to donate to the federal government influencing public policy.

The Washington Post's June 2014 report "How Bill Gates pulled off the swift Common Core revolution" shows Gates pledged funding in "writing of common math and reading standards" kindergarten through high school, with the purpose of ensuring college and career readiness.

If you want to understand why public policy groups and establishment politicians — on the left and right — would support unconstitutional federal legislation pushed by the Gates Foundation simply follow the money.

The Gates Foundation gave over $27 million to the primary architects of the Common Core standards — Achieve Inc. (education lobbyists), the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. The NGA and CCSSO are Washington-based trade associations never granted any legislative authority by the states, including Minnesota.

Other lucky winners include the Fordham Institute, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and many other organizations that agreed to push Common Core. Jeb Bush's Foundation for Excellence in Education has received roughly $5.2 million from the Gates Foundation.

Data mining vs. privacy

Guess who's given over $22 million on research and data systems? Come on, you know the answer. That's right, Bill Gates!

Historically, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act laws protected students' personal data. However, revisions in December 2011 now allow schools and states to share student information with third parties to audit or evaluate programs. Under the guise of educational research, your child's data may be shared without parental consent.

Student assessments are a critical component to the federal standards, which in turn creates a whole lot of data. Data to be analyzed and shared.

The Minnesota Statewide Longitudinal Education Data System maintains "student data from pre-kindergarten through completion of post-secondary education and into the workforce," according to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

Take a look at the Minnesota Data Survey. "During a school day, how many hours do you go outside, take a walk, work for pay, text, play video games? Have you stayed in a shelter? Who do you live with? Have your parents been in jail, drink, hit you? Can you talk to your father about problems? Do you feel your parents care about you? Etc."

Millennials are the first generation being tracked from cradle to grave.

Gates and UNESCO want a managed global economy. Your child is simply a cog in the wheel.

After giving over $2 billion into Common Core, Gates stated during a Harvard University interview, "It would be great if our education stuff worked, but that we won't know for probably a decade."

Priceless.

This is the opinion of AJ Kern, a politically engaged resident of Sauk Rapids. Her column is published the first Thursday of the month.