CSCOPE, a K-12 educational curriculum support system designed to assist the smaller ISD's in Texas to prepare it students for the STARR tests (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) has been controversial for a variety of reasons.
Teachers complain it imposes limits on what they do in the classroom and parent complain about a lack of transparency - they can't see the lesson plans.
But the most heated area has to do - no big surprise - with content. How do students cover certain subjects, most social studies?
A month back - while we were discussing the importance of education in maintaining republics - a debate was held between a member of the State Board of Education - Thomas Ratliff - and the chair of the State Senate's Education Committee - Dan Patrick. While both men are Republicans, Patrick is affiliated with the Tea Party wing of the party. Ratliff sides with the moderates.
The Tea Party maintains the curriculum is liberal, Anti-American and pro-Islamic.
For further background:
- Ratliff, Patrick Exchange Words over CSCOPE Lessons.
- Debate again thrusts CSCOPE into Texas spotlight.
- Sen. CSCOPE announce sweeping changes.
The curriculum was designed by the Texas Education Service Center Curriculum Collaborative and overseen by the Texas Curriculum Management Program.
