Common Core Is Crony Capitalism for Computer Companies - Hit & Run : Reason.com - Robby Soave:
July 14, 2014 - "In a recent interview with The Washington Post, Bill Gates insisted that his support for the Common Core education standards was purely philosophical — he was offended by the notion that anyone would suspect him of pushing a policy that helps his own bottom line. He has no reason to peddle Common Core, he said, except that he cares deeply about the state of education in the U.S. and sincerely thinks expensive new curriculum standards and rigorous standardized testing will improve U.S. schools....
"But wait a minute — doesn't Gates work for a pretty big computer company, or something? Oh, and doesn't the testing component of Common Core require schools to upgrade their computer software? Who wants to bet that Core-aligned standardized testing requires Windows 8?
"It does! As The Post's Valerie Strauss points out, a Windows web page actually recommends that schools hurry up and buy the latest Windows software in order to enjoy a smoother transition to tech-heavy standardized testing required by Common Core....
"As Strauss writes, this fact does not make Gates a liar. It seems likely he does indeed think that imposing a set of uniform standards on the states will improve students' educational outcomes. But it should underscore that massive, expensive public policy changes — even well-intentioned ones — carry ramifications for rent-seekers. (Indeed, many states only agreed to the standards because the Obama administration promised them federal grant money in exchange.)
"I have already noted that Common Core looks like corporate welfare for textbook giants, since Pearson — the largest textbook company in the world — won a non-competitive government contract to design tests for half the states. It may also be crony capitalism for computer companies."
Read more: http://reason.com/blog/2014/07/14/common-core-is-crony-capitalism-for-comp
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July 14, 2014 - "In a recent interview with The Washington Post, Bill Gates insisted that his support for the Common Core education standards was purely philosophical — he was offended by the notion that anyone would suspect him of pushing a policy that helps his own bottom line. He has no reason to peddle Common Core, he said, except that he cares deeply about the state of education in the U.S. and sincerely thinks expensive new curriculum standards and rigorous standardized testing will improve U.S. schools....
"But wait a minute — doesn't Gates work for a pretty big computer company, or something? Oh, and doesn't the testing component of Common Core require schools to upgrade their computer software? Who wants to bet that Core-aligned standardized testing requires Windows 8?
"It does! As The Post's Valerie Strauss points out, a Windows web page actually recommends that schools hurry up and buy the latest Windows software in order to enjoy a smoother transition to tech-heavy standardized testing required by Common Core....
"As Strauss writes, this fact does not make Gates a liar. It seems likely he does indeed think that imposing a set of uniform standards on the states will improve students' educational outcomes. But it should underscore that massive, expensive public policy changes — even well-intentioned ones — carry ramifications for rent-seekers. (Indeed, many states only agreed to the standards because the Obama administration promised them federal grant money in exchange.)
"I have already noted that Common Core looks like corporate welfare for textbook giants, since Pearson — the largest textbook company in the world — won a non-competitive government contract to design tests for half the states. It may also be crony capitalism for computer companies."
Read more: http://reason.com/blog/2014/07/14/common-core-is-crony-capitalism-for-comp
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