HB 2923 would specifically make sure that we in Texas continue to control what is taught to our public school students instead of subjecting them to national standards, national curriculum, national assessments, and the national database that is required under Common Core Standards/Race to the Top (CCS/RTTT). 
 
HB 2923 specifically states that a school district cannot be accredited unless it follows Texas’ state-adopted curriculum standards (TEKS) and tests.  Our Texas standards are adopted by the elected Texas State Board of Education which gives parents and all voters access to the people they elect.
 
What precipitated HB 2923 is that there is a move on foot in Washington, D. C. to give federal Race to the Top II (RTTT-ii) dollars directly to school districts.  Any school district that takes the RTTT-ii funds would be subject to the strings attached, and they are many. 
 
HB 2923 sends a shot across the bow to local school districts that if they take the federal RTTT-ii dollars, their district will not be accredited.
 
Another excellent part of HB 2923 is that it protects our Texas students from becoming a part of the national database that is scheduled to collect very personal, intrusive information on all students, educators, and families in states that take the CCS/RTTT dollars.
 
[Note -- The arrows mean “lead to.”]
 
National standards  →  national assessments  →  national curriculum → teachers’ salaries tied to students’ test scores  →  teachers teaching to the test each and every day  →  national indoctrination of our public school children  →  national database of all students and educators
 
 
HB 2923 is scheduled for a public hearing in the House State Sovereignty Committee tomorrow, Thursday, on 4.14.11. 
 
Here are the members of the State Sovereignty Committee.  Please contact them and express your support for HB 2923.  Texas must not participate in the federal government’s takeover of our public school students.  If possible, please call the following committee members.  To address your e-mails, please follow this format:  john.doe@house.state.tx.us.
 
 
Select Committee on State Sovereinty (10th Amendment – powers reserved for the states) – appointed by Speaker Straus
 
Brandon Creighton – R — Chair 
Trey Martinez Fisher – D — Vice-Chair
Dan Branch – R
Sid Miller – R
Drew Darby – R
Senfronia Thompson – D
Jim Pitts – R
 
 
To see actions taken on HB 2923:  http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Actions.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=HB2923
 
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To read HB 2923 for yourself:
 
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/billtext/doc/HB02923I.doc
 
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ARTICLES ON COMMON CORE STANDARDS/RACE TO THE TOP
“The Ascent of America’s Choice and the Continuing Descent of America’s High Schools” — by Dr. Sandra Stotsky, 8.5.10: 
http://jaypgreene.com/2010/07/29/stotsky-on-the-common-core-vote-in-ma/
 
 
“Common Core Standards Still Don’t Make the Grade” — a Pioneer Institute White Paper, 7.10:
http://www.pioneerinstitute.org/pdf/common_core_standards.pdf
 
 
“The Other Shoe Drops: National Testmakers Worried” — by Donna Garner, 4.12.11:  http://www.educationnews.org/ednews_today/153790.html
 
 
“Congressmen: A Great Place To Cut Funding — National Assessments” — by Donna Garner, 4.9.11:http://www.educationnews.org/political/153529.html
 
 
 
“Standards Overreach, or According to Plan?” — by Neal McCluskey, 4.6.11:http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/standards-overreach-or-according-to-plan/
 
 
“Obama’s Carrot and Stick Control of Our Nation’s Public Schools” — 3.24.11:  http://www.educationnews.org/commentaries/152238.html
 
 
“Our Hope Rests with Congressman Kline” –  3.20.11 –
http://www.educationnews.org/commentaries/151843.html
 
“Taxpayers, Grab Your Wallets” — 3.18.11: 
http://www.navigator-news.com/component/content/article/3-local/251-taxpayers-grab-your-wallets
 
 
“The Further Dumbing Down of America: Marc Tucker, GED” — 3.18.11:
http://www.educationnews.org/headlines/151603.html
 
 
“The Race to the Top Scheme” — 2.24.11 — by Henry W. Burke and Donna Garner
 
http://www.educationnews.org/ednews_today/108436.html
 
 
 
“Let’s Get off the National Standards Train” — 2.14.11  — by Henry W. Burke and Donna Garner
http://www.navigator-news.com/component/content/article/4-national/206-lets-get-off-the-national-standards-train
 
 
“Obama’s National Data Base Is Upon Us” — 12.10.10:
http://www.educationnews.org/index.php?news=104319
 
 
“What Is the Centers for Disease Control?” — 10.23.10:  http://www.educationnews.org/breaking_news/health/101841.html
 
 
“Bullying Agenda” — 10.26.10:
 http://www.educationnews.org/index.php?news=101979
 
“Open Letter to Parents, Legislators, School Personnel: Which Policy Are You Going To Promote?” — 11.7.10:
http://www.educationnews.org/blogs/102489.html
 
“Am I a Wacko Now? – 9.16.10
http://www.educationnews.org/index.php?news=100137
 
 
“Where Have All the Caring Parents Gone? — 7.28.10
http://www.educationnews.org/commentaries/insights_on_education/96839.html
 
 “Marc Tucker’s Bologna” — 4.19.10:
http://www.educationnews.org/commentaries/89899.html
 
 
 
“Obama’s Doublespeak” — 3.4.10:
 
http://ramparts360.wordpress.com/obama%E2%80%99s-doublespeak/
 
 
“Cradle-to-Career Plan by Obama and Duncan” — 1.29.10
 
http://www.educationnews.org/ednews_today/39076.html
 
 
 
“Texas Tells Feds ‘Enough Is Enough’” — 1.13.10
 
http://www.educationnews.org/ednews_today/29200.html
 
 
“Children and the Future of Our Country”– 11.12.09
http://www.educationnews.org/blogs/7704.html