Agenda 01/27/2015 Item #10C 1/27/2015 10.C.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to adopt a Resolution petitioning the District School Board of Collier
County, the Florida Legislature, and Governor Rick Scott to reclaim Florida's educational
sovereignty and return control of educational standards, curriculum, and student
assessments to the local county school districts.
OBJECTIVE: To halt the implementation of academic standards that result in a "one size fits
all"education for American students.
CONSIDERATIONS: At its January 13, 2015 regular meeting (Item 7- Public Comments on
General Topics not on the Current or Future Agenda), citizen Peter Richter proposed a
Resolution to the Board of County Commissioners (Board) in opposition to Common Core
Standards of education. The proposed Resolution notes that the State's Common Core Standards
are a set of academic standards, owned and copyrighted by two private membership
organizations (the National Governor's Association and the Council of Chief State School
Officers) which the Federal Government is imposing on the States through incentives and
punitive measures. Additionally, Florida's Next Sunshine State Standards drives the Common
Core Curriculum which includes high stakes testing that may impose life changing punishments
on students based on a single test for 3rd grade and graduation. The curriculum significantly
influences teacher pay thus creating an incentive to teach to the Common Core Standards. Mr.
Richter also noted that the Collier County School Board would be considering the proposed
Resolution at its next meeting.
Jessie Purdon, representing the office of Congressman Curt Clawson, also spoke in opposition to
what he described as a"top-down Federal approach to education."
The Board then directed the County Manager to communicate with the School Board as to its
position on the proposed Resolution and agreed that the issue should be placed on a future
agenda.
The proposed Resolution is based on the Resolution presented to the Board by Mr. Richter.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: The County Attorney has reviewed the proposed Resolution
and approves same as to form and legality. This item requires majority vote for approval. -JAK
RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of County Commissioners adopts the proposed
Resolution petitioning the District School Board of Collier County, the Florida Legislature, and
Governor Rick Scott to reclaim Florida's educational sovereignty and return control of
educational standards, curriculum, and student assessments to the local county school districts
PREPARED BY: Commissioner Tom Henning, District 3
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1/27/2015 10.C.
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 10.10.C.
Item Summary: Recommendation to adopt a Resolution petitioning the District School
Board of Collier County,the Florida Legislature, and Governor Rick Scott to reclaim Florida's
educational sovereignty and return control of educational standards, curriculum, and student
assessments to the local county school districts. (Commissioner Henning)
Meeting Date: 1/27/2015
Prepared By
Name: BrockMaryJo
Title: Executive Secretary to County Manager, County Managers Office
1/21/2015 11:31:34 AM
Submitted by
Title: Executive Secretary to County Manager, County Managers Office
Name: BrockMaryJo
1/21/2015 11:31:35 AM
Approved By
Name: OchsLeo
Title: County Manager, County Managers Office
Date: 1/21/2015 12:13:11 PM
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1/27/2015 10.C.
RESOLUTION NO. 2015 -
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, PETITIONING THE DISTRICT
SCHOOL BOARD OF COLLIER COUNTY, THE FLORIDA
LEGISLATURE, AND THE GOVERNOR TO RECLAIM THE
EDUCATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA UNDER
THE U.S. CONSTITUTION FOR THE CITZENS OF FLORIDA AND
RESTORE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD CONTROL OF STANDARDS,
CURRICULUM,AND STUDENT ASSESSMENTS.
WHEREAS, the U.S. Constitution does not grant the federal government with the
specific authority to impose acts, laws, orders, rules, or regulations relating to Education; and
WHEREAS, the Ninth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads "The enumeration in
the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by
the people;"and
WHEREAS, the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States reads as
follow, "All powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution,nor prohibited by it to
the States, are reserved to States respectively, or to the people;"and
WHEREAS, per the absence of specific, delegated authority relating to education in
Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution and the clear language of the Ninth and Tenth
Amendments, all education powers reside within the States and the People; and
WHEREAS, the 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees "The right of the
people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches
and seizures;"and
WHEREAS, the Constitution of the State of Florida, Article 9, 4b provides: "The school
board shall operate, control and supervise all free public education within the school district;"
and
WHEREAS, the Common Core State Standards are a set of academic standards, owned
and copyrighted by two private membership organizations, the National Governor's Association
(NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) that the Federal Government is
imposing on the States through incentives and punitive measures to force a "one size fits all"
education on American students; and
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WHEREAS, Common Core Standards have been implemented in Florida under
"Florida's Next Generation State Standards;"and
WHEREAS, the Florida Next Generation Sunshine State Standards result in a "one size
fits all" curriculum that reconstructs U.S. history, minimizes the reading of classical literature
and destroys many students desire for learning and creative thinking; and
WHEREAS, excessive high stakes tests are derived from the Common Core Standards
that impose life changing punishments on students based on a single test for 3rd grade and
graduation, significantly influencing teacher pay, incentivizing them to teach to the Common
Core Standards and related tests; and
WHEREAS, the State of Florida requires high stakes testing that results in District and
School grades, teacher pay and student retention which forces local schools and the Collier
School District to adopt Common Core Curriculum and teach to high stakes tests; and
WHEREAS, Common Core requires the collection and sharing to Federal agencies and
large international corporations of over 400 individual and personal data points to feed a
longitudinal database of massive amounts of personal student and teacher data without proper
controls and violate individual rights to privacy.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF COLLIER COUNTY, sitting in duly called session on this day, that:
1. THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF COLLIER COUNTY calls
upon the District School Board of Collier County to use all actions necessary through the
utilization of their respective powers to halt the implementation of Florida's Next Sunshine State
Standards which contain 100% Common Core Standards that drive Common Core Curriculum,
High Stakes Testing and violate individual rights to privacy.
2. THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF COLLIER COUNTY calls
upon the District School Board of Collier County to send a resolution to the Florida Legislature
and Governor Scott urging Florida immediately repeal the Common Core content of Florida's
Next Generation Sunshine State Standards and return all implementation of Standards,
Curriculum and Assessments in Florida public Schools to the District School Boards.
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3. THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF COLLIER COUNTY calls
upon the Governor, and the Florida Legislature to immediately pass an act repealing Common
Core Standards Content of the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards, Curriculum and High
Stakes Testing that are being imposed through incentives and punitive actions by the Federal
Department of Education and State Government agencies in violation of the Constitution of the
United States,the US Bill of Rights and the Constitution of the State of Florida; therefore are not
authorized by the Constitution of the United States, and violate its true meaning and intent as
given by the Founders; and are hereby declared to be invalid in this state.
4. THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF COLLIER COUNTY calls
upon the Governor and the Florida Legislature to pass legislation that restores the control of
standards, curriculum, and assessments to the Local County School Districts under State of
Florida, Article 9, Section 4b.
THIS RESOLUTION ADOPTED after motion, second and majority vote on this the
27th day of January, 2015.
ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
DWIGHT E. BROCK, Clerk COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: By:
, Deputy Clerk TIM NANCE, CHAIRMAN
Approved as to form and legality:
Jeffrey A. Klatzkow
County Attorney
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