HB 1237 is an attempt to get the failed SB 62 passed, but this time it is being brought in through the House. It creates a council to study the Common Core. This bill is in the House Education Committee on Monday, February 10, 2014. Please get educated about this bill and contact your legislators. HOUSE BILL…

Thank you to everyone who attended Legislative Coffees and Cracker Barrels last Saturday.  Your attendance was noticed!  So much so, that the opponents spent the week begging people to write and show up at the coffees and cracker barrels this week.  Last week in Sioux Falls, one legislator polled the audience by a show of hands. There was…

With the implementation of the Common Core, more and more parents across the state of South Dakota are seeing the benefits of homeschooling. Understandably, not everyone chooses to homeschool.  SB 131 is a step to further limit your rights as a parent to decide how to educate your child.  Whether that education is public school,…

When I spoke with former Governor Mike Rounds, now Senate candidate, at the Sioux Empire Fair in August 2013, he told me he was glad I was working to get rid of the Common Core in South Dakota. After a very brief exchange, he invited me to coffee so we could discuss this further. And…

On January 23, 2014, thirty-four Chief State School Officers, including our Dr. Melody Schopp, sent a letter to United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, regarding students’ personally identifiable data being shared with the federal government. This was done to try to assure the public that their childrens’ information is safe. You can read that…

2014 Legislative Cracker Barrel – Coffee Sessions Not everyone can make a trip to Pierre to have a conversation with your legislator. Legislative Coffees and Cracker Barrels are opportunities to visit with your area legislators face to face and close to home. Along with letters, phone calls, and emails, this is another tool to ask…

Jenny Downey has written a great summary of the House session in Pierre yesterday. From The Accidental Activist Report card from Pierre:  Vote on a Resolution in Pierre yesterday to phase out Common Core in SD.  Green votes line up with my stance.  Red is either PRO-Common Core or not opposed.  More thoughts below on…

On January 29, 2014, the House of Representatives in Pierre voted on HCR 1008. Here is the vote record. This resolution may have failed on the House floor, but now we know where our Representatives stand on the issue of Common Core. Time to get busy. Be sure to send those representatives a thank-you for…

Your action is required today! Representative Jim Bolin has filed HCR 1008,  a resolution to get the Common Core and all related activites out of South Dakota. It will he heard, discussed and voted on in the House of Representatives at 2:00 pm today. There are several things you can do to help get this…

South Dakota parent, Ann Holman, has penned this letter to all South Dakota Legislators. She has given permission to publish it here.  January 26, 2014  Dear Legislator: I am once again writing to share my concerns with Common Core. I am not able to make it to Pierre for legislative session as planned, due to…