Statement from State Superintendent of Education Mick Zais

COLUMBIA, SC – February 24, 2012 – State Superintendent of EducationMick Zais issued the following statement regarding recent comments aboutSouth Carolina’s standards made by U.S. Secretary of Education ArneDuncan.  At the bottom of this email is the statement released yesterdayby Secretary Duncan and referenced in Dr. Zais’ statement.
                                                       
State Superintendent Zais said, “Secretary Duncan’s honest commentaryhas validated what I’ve said for nearly two years now as a candidate forpublic office and as State Superintendent of Education: the educationestablishment lowered our standards.”
 
“Let me be crystal clear: South Carolina’s standards were loweredthrough an organized effort by former Democratic State Superintendentsof Education Inez Tenenbaum and Jim Rex, the State Board of Education,the Education Oversight Committee, and taxpayer-funded education lobbygroups. Their intent was to hide the true performance of our schoolsfrom students, parents, and taxpayers.”
 
“The governance of South Carolina’s system of education is toofragmented.  Parents and taxpayers don’t need more unaccountable boardsin Columbia; they need leaders willing to take principled stands totransform education so every student receives a personalized andcustomized education, not an inflexible, standardized one. That is mymandate from the voters.”
 
Zais continued, “Under my proposal for flexibility from certainprovisions of No Child Left Behind, South Carolina would implement a newsystem of accountability that would grade schools from A through F,something every student and parent can understand.  The proposal wouldset high and achievable standards for every student in every school.  Ilook forward to submitting this proposal by February 28 and working withthe U.S. Department of Education to gain approval of the State’s waiverrequest.”
 
“As State Superintendent of Education, it is my goal to raise standardsas new statewide assessments are implemented in the next few years.  History has shown, and President Obama’s Administration has confirmed,the education establishment in South Carolina and their lobbyists cannotbe trusted.”
 
Zais concluded, “I call on all students, parents, and taxpayers to holdthose responsible for lowering standards to account, and to stand withmy allies and me as we work to transform education in South Carolina.Now is the time to put students first. That is my calling; that is mycharge to keep.”

 
Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
On a Legislative Proposal in South Carolina to Block Implementation of the Common Core Academic Standards

FEBRUARY 23, 2012
Following is a statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on alegislative proposal in South Carolina to block implementation of theCommon Core academic standards:
“The idea that the Common Core standards are nationally-imposed is aconspiracy theory in search of a conspiracy. The Common Core academicstandards were both developed and adopted by the states, and they havewidespread bipartisan support. GOP leaders like Jeb Bush and governorsMitch Daniels, Chris Christie, and Bill Haslam have supported the CommonCore standards because they realize states must stop dummying downacademic standards and lying about the performance of children andschools. In fact, South Carolina lowered the bar for proficiency inEnglish and mathematics faster than any state in the country from 2005to 2009, according to research by the National Center for EducationStatistics.

“That’s not good for children, parents, or teachers. I hope SouthCarolina lawmakers will heed the voices of teachers who supported SouthCarolina’s decision to stop lowering academic standards and set a higherbar for success. And I hope lawmakers will continue to support thestate’s decision to raise standards, with the goal of making every childcollege- and career-ready in today’s knowledge economy.”

http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/statement-us-secretary-education-arne-duncan-1