EdAction
Maple River Education Coalition PAC
105 Peavey Rd, St 116
Chaska, MN
55318
952-361-4931
http://www.EdAction.org
E-mail
October 26, 2000
The ACHIEVE report on Minnesota's Profile of Learning "standards" is in the hands of the Department of Children, Families and Learning (CFL). They have had it for at least two weeks, according to ACHIEVE, Inc.
However, no one except insider, Senator Pogemiller, his staff and a few people at the CFL have been allowed to see it. The release date is set for after the November 7th election. Why?
"ACHIEVE, Inc. is a 1996 creation of the National Governor's Association - the same organization which, in 1989 launched the 'standards-based reform' movement sweeping the nation and known in Minnesota as The Profile of Learning," according to a column by Michael Chapman, Profile researcher, writer and speaker.
Chapman further states, that, "According to the Commissioner, Achieve, Inc. would offer a more 'appropriate' assessment of Minnesota’s education system. So the DCFL spent $110,000 of taxpayer money to contract with Achieve. The problem is that Achieve was created precisely for the purpose of helping states implement Goals 2000 and School-to-Work."
So why the delay? Why hold the results of this report that has already been sent back by Commissioner Jax for revision?
This letter came from the Long Lake Education Coalition:
Dear Education and Freedom Patriots,
Our group has learned that the ACHIEVE report is
in the hands of the CFL (probably has been for close to
a week now). Their intent is to review it and hold on
to it until approximately November 13 (after the
election).
We don't know why the delay, but we are very curious to find out. Is it because even ACHIEVE's purposes are not fulfilled by the present Profile of Learning, and that an uncomplimentary report is best held until after the elections? Could reflect badly on some Profile-backer legislators and school board members up for re-election?
Or could it be to let the furor of election season pass by so that fanfare from the report can be orchestrated to build for the 2001 CFL/Ventura legislative agenda?
In any case, taxpayers have paid thousands of dollars for a legislatively mandated report and it should not be withheld from citizen review for the best CFL timing.
You can call the CFL to ask for a copy of the report: 651-582-8204. You may also request the complete report, not summaries of the report. Perhaps pressure from the public will shake this loose so we can all evaluate its results in our own good time!