Representative Jim Bolin was one of the first in South Dakota to expose this leviathan called Common Core. He, along with other legislators have worked tirelessly to educate the public and remove this beast from our state and schools. He has requested our presence in the South Dakota Legislature on January 29, 2014.

We will spend the day in the capitol and most importantly, be in the gallery for the House session at 2 pm. There will be the opportunity to lobby legislators face to face. We need you to share your experience as a parent and your child’s experiences with the Common Core with as many legislators as possible. This is your opportunity to speak with almost every legislator in one place, in one day. This is an opportunity not to be missed.

Representative Bolin has also asked if you could bring examples of the work your child is being asked to do that is aligned to the Common Core to share with legislators. We all saw Karen Lamoreaux testify before the Arkansas Board of Education regarding the 108 steps to do the math, and the impact that had. (Link1)

Please wear a red shirt on January 29, 2014.  We will have buttons for you to wear.

Some have asked to be able to testify. There will be a House Education Committee meeting at 7:45 am. You can find the agenda of that meeting and what bills they will take testimony and vote on here. If you would like to testify regarding these bills all you have to do is sign up on the sheet in the meeting room at the beginning  of the meeting.

If you would like to bring your children, you are welcome to do that. Because this is a situation where you will be talking to legislators one on one, if your children are very young, please consider whether  you will be able to have a conversation with legislators if you have young children with you.

Please get together with your neighbors and ride together or caravan to Pierre. We will meet at the capitol at 8:00 am.

There will be a bus going from Sioux Falls.  The bus will leave at 4:00 am and we will leave Pierre at 3:30 pm arriving back in Sioux Falls 7:30-8:00 pm. The cost to ride the bus will be $25 per person. We need you to reserve your seat and pay for the bus in advance. There is a Paypal link below to do this. Just include in the note that you are reserving your spot on the bus, how many, and name. If you would like to pay in cash, please contact Megan Tschetter at 605-496-3803.  I know there are those who will want to go, but will be unable to pay the cost of riding the bus. There are people I know would like to go, but are unable to go for any number of reasons.

If you are unable to make the trip, but could help defray the cost for others to ride the bus, please email me at mary.sdacc@gmail.com or call me at 605-610-6872, or you can click the donate button here. Be sure to include a note that says what you are contributing for. Your contribution is not tax deductible

I look forward to seeing everyone there. This is our opportunity to stand with Representative Bolin and the legislators who believe that you, not Washington bureaucrats, know what’s best for your children.