On January 16, your Board of Directors passed a resolution against the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). You can read the entire resolution here.

What are they? CCSS are K-12 academic standards adopted by Colorado in order to enter the federal Race-to-the-Top grant competition in 2009. The state lost the competition but had to keep the standards.

Why does Liberty Common object to them? The list is long. Here are just a few reasons.

The Common Core Standards:

• Remove local control of education and cede it to unelected bureaucrats who can alter the standards whenever they choose.
• Are not internationally benchmarked to ensure high-quality. The math and English content experts brought in to validate the standards would not sign off on them.
• Aim students for "career-readiness" or community college instead of providing a rigorous education with the goal of attending a 4-year college.
• Are accompanied by intrusive and costly computerized testing starting in 3rd grade. The assessments take longer to administer than the current tests, taking time away from learning.
• Will reduce textbook variety: providers will write texts to the national standards in order to stay in business.
• Will limit parental freedom to select a curriculum which best suits their child. Sandwiched between the standards and accompanying assessments lies the curriculum. You can be sure that the curriculum will bend to agree with both sides of this sandwich. This limits choice.
• Substitute additional non-fiction texts for the reading of high-quality literature. Some Common Core aligned textbooks dumb down rich subject matter. For example, instead of reading all of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, students might only read an excerpt and see some cutesy cartoons showing the Frankenstein character. The standards do not require reading the entire US Constitution. How does this ensure a well-educated populace?

And the list could go on...

What does this mean? Liberty Common School will not change the content or rigor of its curriculum or content of its classical education in response to these standards. But, it will take vigilance on our part to remain true. A recent parent education initiative to require attendance at an information session prior to lottery enrollment is one effort to ensure all parents understand and value our approach. Unfortunately, Liberty must follow the expanded testing schedule accompanying Common Core. Our students will be tested on a few topics before they're taught them at Liberty. Where we've had success teaching in a particular order, we will not bend to meet the test. The goal is a well-educated child, not a test-taking star.

What can I do?

• Become educated. Learn more about Common Core and its implications to parental choice. Our own Principal Schaffer recently led an informative pro/con debate at Steamboat Institute.
• Join the fight locally: There are several anti-Common Core parent-led groups across CO. In Northern Colorado, Core Concerns started a few months ago by several Ridgeview Classical parents and is looking for energized parents.
• Attend a talk by Dr. Sandra Stotsky on Jan 27 at 6:30 pm. She is one of the content experts who could not sign off on the standards. She will be speaking at the Midtown Arts Center.

This year's winter carnival will be a Sock Hop on Friday, February 21st., from 6:00 - 8:00 in the gym. All attendees are welcome to dress up in your favorite "greaser" outfit or poodle skirt.

Volunteers will be needed to help with decorating, running stations, serving food and clean up. We also need donations of items for the various stations.  

                   CLICK HERE to volunteer

                   CLICK HERE to donate items 

Pizza and Subway sandwiches will be available for purchase the night of the carnival.   

The Subway sandwiches must be pre-ordered. CLICK HERE for order sheet.  

Thank you so much for your support. We look forward to having a great time!

This week in Jr. High Sports:  1/27| Liberty vs. St. John   HOME  4pm  

Ashley Gilbertson (6th grade) puts up a shot as Megan Hammel (7th grade) supports her teammate.

 The Jr. High Girl's Basketball is undefeated.

   

Lauren Gamlin,(6th grade) bounce passes the ball to her teammate as Alexa Kopren (6th grade) looks on.

Register Today! Cost is $63, plus reversible jersey ($15), except for middle school teams (school t-shirts provided at practice). 1-2 Practices per week with Saturday and some weeknight games.

         2nd-8th Grade at school locations

Boys Practices begin the week of January 27

Register at NACC, EPIC, Mulberry Pool, senior Center or by calling 221.6256

Liberty Jr. High Spring Sports  

If you are thinking ahead, the first day of practice for spring sports is Monday, March 10.  Blue Cards need to be collected from Mr. Knab by March 7th.  Schedules for Girl's Soccer and Boy's/Girl's Track will be posted on the website on February 7th.

Know Your Charter? The answer to today's quiz is "a."   Liberty's educational philosophy is agency education.  Its metaphor is a journey that begins with gaining knowledge and ends in self-reliance.