U.S. Department of Education Deletes “Mother” and “Father”

The 2014-2015 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, will provide a new option for dependent applicants to describe their parents’ marital status as “unmarried and both parents living together.” Additionally, where appropriate, the new FAFSA form will also use terms like “Parent 1 (father/mother/stepparent)” and “Parent 2 (father/mother/stepparent)” instead of gender-specific terms like “mother” and “father.”
– ED.gov, April 29, 2013 Press Release (Accessed 05-12-13)

Also in the above press release, the Department of Education said the proposed changes would be in the Federal Register for a month to allow public comment, as required by law.
ACTION – Oppose. Email your opposition to openfederalregister@nara.gov

Federal Control of Education via Common Core Curriculum
As indicated in the above press release USDOE officials do not promote community values, which is painfully evident in the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) required in states receiving Race to the Top (RTT) grants, which Georgia did. In addition, Georgia and other states with RTT grants had to adopt CCSS-aligned “college- and career-ready standards.”

CCSS requirements are so egregious that Senator Chuck Grassly (R-Iowa) and his peers signed a letter asking the Senate Appropriations Committee to cut off all future funds that allow the Obama administration to “cajole states” into participating in CCSS and its assessments that are being developed by designated consortia without input from parents or educators across the country.

In the last several weeks, the Michigan House of Representatives voted to defund Common Core and sent the bill to the Senate. Next, the Indiana legislature passed a bill halting the implementation of Common Core until there was further study and an open review process.

In Georgia, “The Cobb County school board rejected a proposal to spend $7.5 million on CC-aligned math textbooks after opponents packed the meeting and spoke of the folly of pouring money into something that may not exist in a year or two,” said Jane Robbins, an attorney with the American Principles Project.”

Access www.stopcommoncore.com to learn about an upcoming CCSS-related event in Rome on May 30th.

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