The Valiant Defenders of Ohio Voices Support For Bills Repealing Common Core

The Valiant Defenders of Ohio Voices Support For Bills Repealing Common Core

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 The Valiant Defenders of Ohio issued a statement today in favor of legislation HB 237 and SB 237, bills for repealing the Common Core State Standards in Ohio, from the House and the Senate, respectively.

Common Core State Standards, Race to the Top Initiatives, and Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) are federal standards of education issued by the Department of Education. Common Core has been already adopted in the state of Ohio, but opposition to the standards are represented by the two pieces of legislation.

The group has released an online petition (http://bit.ly/passhb237) to the House Education Committee and its Chairman, State Representative Gerald Stebelton. The Valiant Defenders of Ohio says that the fight against Common Core is non-partisan in nature, citing both Republican and Democratic opposition in other states. The Valiant Defenders attended hearings on HB237 to show their support in the State Capitol in Columbus.

"We youth know about Common Core," quips Samuel Garcia, the chairman. "It already has affected us as college students and our credit transfers."

The Valiant Defenders of Ohio is the Ohio state chapter of the Valiant Defender's Party. The Valiant Defender's Party is a national student leadership society.

Contact
Samuel Garcia
6149629041
info@valiantdefendersparty.com

First Hearing For HB237

I attended the first hearing for HB237 in the Ohio State Capitol. Many people showed up to support the repeal of Common Core that we had to be ushered to the overflow room.

The fight has only begun!

Petition to the Ohio State House To Repeal Common Core!

Please sign!

Call Your Representatives!

From the HSLDA:

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends,

On October 9, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. in the State House, Rep. Andy Thompson will give sponsor testimony in favor of House Bill (“HB”) 237, which would repeal the Common Core and prohibit Ohio from taking any action in favor of the Common Core Standards.

HSLDA supports repeal of Common Core Standards. However, HB 237 as currently introduced is deficient because it does not sufficiently protect data privacy and gives too much power to state educational authorities to make decisions about curriculum and standards. CHEO’s legislative liaison is working with the bill sponsor to address these issues. HSLDA understands that the sponsor is open to addressing these important areas of concern.

It is important that the House Education Committee hear from you, because there are many on the committee who may not be familiar with the concerns about Common Core. We have also heard from some sources that there are legislators who are confused about the issue or simply ill-informed. Because it has been reported that the governor favors Common Core it is important for legislators to hear from you.

HSLDA is working with CHEO to support legislation that will repeal Common Core, protect educational freedom for parents, local school districts, and protect children from weak data privacy laws. Ohioans for Educational Freedom (“OEF”) is also working to support such legislation and has set up a database at their website where more information can be found and where individuals can post their interactions with members of the committee.

Action Requested

Please contact the members of the House Education Committee, particularly if the member is your representative, and give them the following messages in your own words:

“I support HB 237, which repeals Common Core Standards. Ohio has spent years preparing its own state standards; adopting untested, one-size-fits all standards and assessments, like the PARCC assessments, would nullify that progress. Better educational outcomes occur when education decision-making is closest to the student—at the local school board level and with parents. HB 237 will help return decision-making authority of what and how children learn to parents and elected local school boards. Please vote in favor of HB 237.”

The Ohioans for Educational Freedom are tracking responses from committee members. After calling you can log the response you get from the committee member on their website.

To find out who your representative is, you can visit the Ohio Legislature’s website.

To make our contacts as efficient as possible please contact the House Education Committee members based on the following:

If your last name begins with A-G please contact:

Representative Gerald Stebelton (Chairman)
(614) 466-6504

Representative Andrew Brenner (Vice Chairman)
(614) 644-6711

Representative Teresa Fedor (Ranking Minority Member)
(614) 644-6017

Representative Nickie J. Antonio
(614) 466-5921

Representative John Becker
(614) 466-8134

Representative Heather Bishoff
(614) 644-6002

If your last name begins with H-O please contact:

Representative Timothy Derickson
(614) 644-5094

Representative Denise Driehaus
(614) 466-5786

Representative Bill Hayes
(614) 466-2500

Representative Michael Henne
(614) 644-8051

Representative Matt Huffman
(614) 466-9624

Representative Stephanie Kunze
(614) 466-8012

If your last name begins with P-Z please contact:

Representative John Patterson
(614) 466-1405

Representative Kristina Roegner
(614) 466-1177

Representative Marilyn Slaby
(614) 644-5085

Representative Ryan Smith
(614) 466-1366

Representative Fred Strahorn
(614) 466-1607

Representative Andy Thompson
(614) 644-8728

http://www.ohioansforfreedom.com/OhioSBE/OhioHouse/HouseEducationCommittee.aspx

Our Strategy

Weeks ago, I received a phone call from the father of one of our affiliates. He is a school board president and the vice president of a conservative school board leadership council here in Ohio. He gave me advice on how to handle this campaign and background on Common Core.

Our Common Core campaign is designed to target all of the populace at once, but focusing on our elected officials, because the so-and-so final decision is in their hands, instead of putting much of our focusing on school board officials.

The education committee of the Ohio House is our primary target:

Gerald L. Stebelton (R) Chair

Andrew Brenner (R) Vice Chair

Teresa Fedor (D) Ranking Minority

Nickie J. Antonio (D)

John Becker (R)

Heather Bishoff (D)

Timothy Derickson (R)

Denise Driehaus (D)

Bill Hayes (R)

Michael Henne (R)

Matt Huffman (R)

Stephanie Kunze (R)

John Patterson (D)

Kristina Roegner (R)

Marilyn Slaby (R)

Ryan Smith (R)

Fred Strahorn (D)

Andy Thompson (R)

We will be compiling profiles to determine the best possible way to sway our officials from the Common Core. We will then move to press releases and other media heavy actions afterwards.