Contact: Tyler Norris 512-463-0490
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUSTIN, TEXAS/March 13, 2013– Today Representative James White, a former public educator, released a statement on the online curriculum system, CSCOPE:
“CSCOPE has become a focal point of the larger effort to examine and reform education in Texas this session. Parents of school children are finding themselves increasingly frustrated and confused about precisely what their children are being taught in the classroom. Most frustrating of all for parents is the inability to review and discuss in-class materials that their children are exposed to.
Section 26.006 of the education code of the State of Texas reads: ‘(a) A parent is entitled to: (1) review all teaching materials, instructional materials, and other teaching aids used in the classroom of the parent’s child; and (2) review each test administered to the parent’s child after the test is administered. (b) A school district shall make teaching materials and tests readily available for review by parents.’ It is correct to state that, as of today, parents are not being given that access when it comes to CSCOPE materials.
In my discussions with Dr. Danny Lovett, Executive Director of the Region 5 Education service center in Beaumont, I am encouraged to hear several updates. First, teachers in Districts that have chosen to take part in CSCOPE are currently able to post their daily lesson plans on their personal teacher’s websites, should they choose to do so. Second, and even more encouraging, administrators of the CSCOPE system are working as quickly as possible to re-engineer the current version of CSCOPE, a teacher’s edition, to one where parents can access the material their child will see online.
As an elected official and former educator, I will keep a watchful eye on developments both here in the Legislature and in the Education Service Centers across the State concerning CSCOPE. It is my sincere wish that this system be as transparent as possible, and responds to the concerns parents and educators bring forth regarding both its content, and how that content is delivered to our students.”
Representative White is a Member of the Texas House of Representatives on behalf of District 19, composed of Polk, Tyler, Jasper, Newton, and Hardin counties.
###