Tavares, FL - June 22, 2013
Download 2013-06-27 CC REC Forum <<<< This is the flyer in Word format. Please send to your friends in Lake County. Updated 6/27/13 to add Dr. Karen Efrem as a panelist and to add biographical information on each panelist. (Vance Jochim will not be on the panel, since we were able to get Dr. Efrem.
Meeting Notice for Thursday, June 27th, at 7pm in Tavares, FL
June 27th Lake County, FL FREE Public Forum on Understanding Pros and Cons of Florida’s Common Core Education Standards for Public Schools (K-12)
Who should attend: Parents, Grandparents, policy makers and anyone from any political viewpoint concerned with Florida K-12 Education quality or costs.
Hosted by: Public Policy Committee of the Lake County Republican Party (Republican Executive Committee)
Date: Thursday, June 27
Time: 7 pm - we suggest you arrive early and bring a chair in case there are not enough
Location: Tavares Community Center, 100 E. Caroline St., Tavares, FL Note: Another forum will be scheduled later in July for the Clermont, FL area.
Contact for info: Vance Jochim, [email protected]; 352-638-3578. Updates on the meeting and pros (section F) and cons (section C) of Common Core will be at www.tinyurl.com/HaltCommonCoreNow .
Forum Format: The moderator is Lake County Commissioner Leslie Campione. Pros and cons will be presented, then a panel will discuss the issues followed by questions and answers. Then there will be a straw vote. Recommended actions may be summarized later for resolutions for State officials and others. Panel members will include:
Pro Common Core:
Khori Whittaker, Director of External Affairs for Jeb Bush’s Foundation for Florida’s Future - Khori Whittaker is Director of External Affairs for the Foundation for Florida’s Future. He developed boundless respect for educators and the teaching profession after teaching fifth grade through Teach for America. Khori has worked in various K-16 roles at a variety of institutions including serving as Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admission at Stanford University. Prior to joining the Foundation, Khori led business development and account management operations for InsideTrack, Inc.’s Community College Impact Initiative. Khori received his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Princeton University and his Master’s degree in Political Science from California State University, Long Beach.
- Jim Miller, former Lake County School Board Member who attended many "information sessions" on Common Core when he was on the Board until 2013;
Opponents of Common Core:
- Randy Osborne (Marion County REC Chair and political consultant): Political Consultant- Victory 360 Inc.; Lobbyist- Acclaim Strategies-Florida Eagle Forum; Director of Education- Heartland Research/ Florida Eagle Forum; Marion County Chair Mike Huckabee for President / Rick Santorum; Chairman of Marion County Republican Party; Have spoken in over 200 churches on various topics including Church’s responsibility in Government and a Christian World View.
- Dr. Karen Effrem is a pediatrician, researcher, and conference speaker. Dr. Effrem's medical degree is from Johns Hopkins University and her pediatric training from the University of Minnesota. She has provided testimony for Congress, as well as in-depth analysis of numerous pieces of major federal education, health, and early childhood legislation for congressional staff, state legislatures, and many organizations. Dr. Effrem serves on the boards of two national organizations: Education Liberty Watch and the Alliance for Human Research Protection. She is a member of The International Society for Ethical Psychiatry and Psychology. She has spoken at numerous state and national conferences. She has been interviewed by Fox News and interviewed by or quoted in the Wall Street Journal, the British Medical Journal, National Journal, WorldNetDaily, NewsMax, Shark Tank, newspapers, radio and television stations across the country. Dr. Karen Effrem and her husband Paul, have three children.
We asked, but representatives from these groups could not attend: 1) the FL Dept of Education (pro), 2) the Lake County School Administration (they have to implement it); and 3) FreedomWorks (con).What is Common Core: In 2010, the Obama Administration offered $4+billion Federal “Free Money” grants to all states, called the “Race to the Top”. A requirement to APPLY for the grants was to agree to adopt Federally funded “Common Core” national education standards for public schools written in secret without public hearings or evidence of successful pilot programs. Two private groups developed the standards and were funded by the Federal government and grants from sources like the Bill Gates Foundation. Over 40 states agreed to adopt the unseen, unvetted standards to get Federal stimulus funds for public education. The adoption of Common Core was a Florida STATE decision and local School District Boards and staff were not consulted, but they have to implement the very expensive standards.
Why the Concerns about Common Core: Significant opposition to Common Core is now being highlighted by teachers, moms, educators, taxpayers and concerned parents and grandparents. Other received grants to support Common Core. The Republican National Committee issued a resolution against the standards. Many other conservative and parent groups are opposing it and distributing information. Attend the forum to find out why, and whether you agree.
Be there: Thursday, June 27th, before 7pm at Tavares Community Center, 100 E. Caroline St. If you Cannot Attend: A video will be posted on the YouTube Channel “FiscalRangersFlorida”, which already has videos of a local Common Core speaker, Diane Kepus; a talk by FL Education Commissioner Dr. Tony Bennett; and a presentation by Lake County, FL School District staff to the Board on implementing Common Core. Or watch for details on the Clermont forum.
