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Education

Texas Announces Sweeping Changes to Controversial CSCOPE Education Program

Feb. 8, 2013 6:15pm

Score a big win for parents’ rights. On Friday, the state of Texas announced that they had reached an agreement with the Texas Education Service Center Curriculum (TESCCC) that would bring sweeping changes to the very secretive curriculum management system known as CSCOPE.

Texas Announces Sweeping Changes To States Controversial CSCOPE Education Program

Image: CSCOPE

Back in November of 2012, and based on complaints from parents, teachers, and students, TheBlaze started covering the story about an internal takeover of the Texas Public School education system. According to parents and teachers that we spoke with, the CSCOPE system was causing problems on several levels.

Transparency – Parents were not allowed to review the lessons that being taught in school. CSCOPE’s parents’ portal was a very basic outline and contained only sketchy details. Any parent who requested access to the lesson plans was told that they needed to visit the actual school and be directed by a teacher to see the online lessons.

Oppressive and Threatening Conditions – Teachers complained that working under the strict guidelines of the CSCOPE program, they were expected to deliver the content verbatim and only on the scheduled days in the lesson plan. If some students were not grasping the lesson, the teachers were directed to move on to the next lesson. Uniformity and sticking to the calendar were stressed over actual learning. Teachers were also asked to sign a contract that would prevent them from revealing what was in the CSCOPE lessons or face civil and criminal penalties.

Lack of State Board of Education Oversight - The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) was virtually shut out of the decision making on CSCOPE.

The agreement announced Friday contains several very important points and makes changes to the system immediately.  One of the most popular concessions will make many educators happy – Teachers will no longer be required to execute the CSCOPE lessons verbatim.

There were other significant changes to the program

From the Cypress Creek Mirror in Texas:

  • All future meetings of the TESCCC Governing Board, beginning with the February meeting, will be public with all the respective notice requirements being met.
  • The TESCCC will begin a joint review process of all CSCOPE lessons with the SBOE beginning with Social Studies.
  • Amendment of all Terms of Use Agreements, signed by both teachers and districts, removing civil or criminal penalties associated with the release of CSCOPE content.
  • Clarifying that all teachers and districts may post any and all CSCOPE lessons that they deem necessary.

The introduction of transparency and the removal of the threats against teachers who exposed CSCOPE were two of the key arguments made by those hoping to slow CSCOPE’s growth. But the agreement actually went further than many people expected. The massive changes also include:

  • Ending the non-profit 501(c)3 arrangement that incorporates CSCOPE.
  • Initiating the posting of CSCOPE lesson content to their public website.
  • Creating a standing curriculum review panel, comprised of: parents, teachers, school administrators, members of the SBOE, and TESCCC board members.

Texas State Senator Dan Patrick was vital to the negotiation between the SBOE and CSCOPE. Mr. Patrick’s statement on the agreement expressed his satisfaction with it, but also issued a little warning to CSCOPE:

“I’m glad the CSCOPE Board realizes that immediate and long term changes must be made to address the serious issues raised by our committee, parents, and teachers. Our committee will be monitoring the situation closely to ensure they follow through with their commitments. We will also be looking at legislation to ensure these changes cannot be reversed in the future and that the SBOE continues in their role of oversight of CSCOPE content. The future of the program will depend on CSCOPE keeping the commitments they have made and gaining the trust of the legislature, teachers, and parents.”

If you are not aware of what CSCOPE  is or was doing, the organization is an offshoot of an educational program that traces its roots back to 1965 when the state established media centers / Education Service Centers (ESCs) throughout each of Texas’s 20 school districts. In recent years, these ESCs have been transformed into a non-profit group that created the curriculum management system known as CSCOPE.

To get a better understanding of how CSCOPE was pushing some controversial concepts into the schools, we suggest you review these Blaze articles:

(H/T: Red Hot Conservative)

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Comments (61)

1 2
  • ZRBD
    Posted on February 9, 2013 at 11:44am

    http://www.agendawise.com/2013/02/why-would-cscope-be-allowed-to-stay/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+agendawisereports+%28AgendaWise+Reports%29

    This link has some more information on the topic. Listen to Pratt on Texas radio program. I missed yesterday’s show but he had Dan Patrick on about this issue. Wish I could have heard the interview and call in questions. AM-790 KFYO Lubbock; AM1470 KYYW Abilene. We listen live via internet.

    Report this comment

    ZRBD  
  • RDMercer
    Posted on February 9, 2013 at 11:28am

    Thank you Senator Patrick and thank you common sense thinking Texas legislators. GOD BLESS TEXAS!!!!

    Report this comment

    RDMercer  
  • maverick2270
    Posted on February 9, 2013 at 9:59am

    This is exactly why we homeschooled our two boys through the 8th grade. Always making sure to keep them involved in church and sports. The were perfectly socialized. Both boys excelling in school and sports. My oldest playing college baseball. The liberals own the education system from top to bottom in every state including Texas. For every good teacher there are 3 others who are brain washed liberals. These teachers are products of our Liberal Universities which look down on conservative thought. Our dumbed down kids go to Universities like UT and get “Indoctrinated” by Socialist, Progressive professors. Yes there are exceptions, but this is by far the process for the majority. Until parents take responsiblity for either “Supplementing” there kids educations at home or actually do the educating, the cycle of dumbing down and liberalizing our children will continue. I know home school and private school are not possible for everyone, but remember, public school education is in large part based on the number of students attending. If enough parents start taking there kids out of public schools, they and the state will start to pay attention.

    Report this comment

    maverick2270  
  • Alternative_Thought
    Posted on February 9, 2013 at 9:14am

    Get your kids out of public school. It’s the parents job to raise up their children

    Report this comment

    Alternative_Thought  
  • M24
    Posted on February 9, 2013 at 7:15am

    If The Teachers Hate C-Scope So Much Why Don’t they get together and Stop Using It WHY?? Because They Are As much of the Problem As C-Scope,Big Unions And Big politics

    Report this comment

    M24  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on February 9, 2013 at 9:11am

      Agenda-21 and nazi’s controling your schools….AND JAILTIME WITH HIGHT-FINES FOR ALL WHO DISSOBEY!!

      Report this comment

      G-WHIZ  
    • ohiovalleygirl
      Posted on February 9, 2013 at 4:22pm

      How so?

      Report this comment

      ohiovalleygirl  
    • Mannamomof4
      Posted on February 10, 2013 at 4:26pm

      I actually know multiple teachers who are leaving the profession because of CSCOPE specifically. Personally, I would like to see it abolished completely. My husband is considering going into administration in the hopes of stopping it. I don’t know how successful he will be, but he feels passionate about it.

      Report this comment

      Mannamomof4  
  • Steelbutterfly
    Posted on February 9, 2013 at 3:51am

    If you really want to know the history of CSCOPE, check out this blog – it is written by a good friend of mine and she has done incredible research on this issue, as well as several others. She is a living example that one person can make a big difference. If each of us picks just one area of government to monitor and investigate, there is no telling how much we could accomplish!
    http://www.TexasTrashTalk.com

    Report this comment

    Steelbutterfly  
  • gingerdr
    Posted on February 9, 2013 at 2:02am

    Being on the forefront of this fight we have a lot of work to do. The fact that you would have a group of men and women join together and form a non profit that operates our of Education Service Centers with no employees, etc… WHERE IS ALL THE MONEY?

    These individuals have lied and indoctrinated our children in Texas with a Marxist Curriculum for the last 6-7 years. Teachers have been forced to sign a non-disclosure statement that they would not release the contents or say anything negative about it or face criminal charges. Teachers have quit their jobs and have been to doctors to be medicated due the stress of teaching under this controlled Marxist product. Parents have been denied access to the lessons that are taught to their children. After seeing the lessons now I know why. It is all INDOCTRINATION. I am not one for suing but these individuals need their pants sued off. HOW DARE THEY! I don’t know how they sleep at night.

    If this isn’t bad enough you have two RINO Texas State Board of Education members Thomas Ratliff and Patricia Hardy supporting this curriculum. Why would they support the lying and ponzi scheme that has been performed by these individuals as well as Texas Children being indoctrinated. Do they have something to profit from this? Makes one wonder.

    Report this comment

    gingerdr  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on February 9, 2013 at 9:16am

      Nonproffit means also non-pollitical….DEMO CRATS/COMMIES AND AGENDA-21 in your TOWN RIGHT NOW!!

      Report this comment

      G-WHIZ  
    • RCP0207
      Posted on March 23, 2013 at 3:33am

      As a Texas educator for the past six years I can honestly say CSCOPE has been the only real form of curriculum provided to me by my school district. I started working as a ms science teacher back in the fall of 2007. Upon seeing this resource I thought it was a great tool for a brand new teacher to get started. As I began using the resource I found many lessons were incomplete or simply not the best approach. For about 4 years now I have been picking and choosing what to use out of it. I do however use the timeline provided by CSCOPE. I wouldn’t be sad if it was taken away!

      Report this comment

      RCP0207  
  • dwMom
    Posted on February 9, 2013 at 1:42am

    Getting rid of CSCOPE is great but it is not the final answer.
    80% of school districts have CSCOPE , But that only equals 50% of Texas students.
    The very big school districts don’t have CSCOPE , but they have their own version of it because they have the money to do their own. WE HAVE TO MAKE ALL SCHOOLS ACCOUNTABLE.

    My child is in one of the big districts. I have been a lone voice yelling about the terrible lesson content, the dumbing-down and the fact that the parents are shut out and are not allowed to see the lessons. If your child misses school for a week, you are not allowed to take lessons home. There is no homework. There are no books. The kids can bring home their own notes and you can question your child about what they are learning.

    Please help me spread the word. The CSCOPE content is in 100% of our schools, even though the big school districts are using their own curriculum, not CSCOPE, but the content, methods and purpose is the same.

    Report this comment

    dwMom  
  • Obama_In_PeePee_Is_Becks_Art
    Posted on February 9, 2013 at 1:41am

    “Texas Announces Sweeping Changes to Controversial CSCOPE Education Program”

    If CSCOPE was not FULLY DISAVOWED … then you are all SUCKERS!
    If there was NO MASS FIRINGS … then you are all SUCKERS!
    If the result is not JUST READIN’ WRITIN’ & ‘RITHMETIC … then you are all SUCKERS!

    Or, as Glenn Beck says:
    “So, here’s what you need to do. Here’s your solution. … Step 2. Please get your children out of the public education system. It is an abomination that is fundamentally transforming our nation. … It has happened before. And if you can find a copy of this [book], I’d recommend it. This was written in 1945 after the war. It’s called ‘Hitler’s Professors’. It was orchestrated by the university system and that’s what’s happening now. Our children … we’re losing them.”

    Report this comment

    Obama_In_PeePee_Is_Becks_Art  
  • SLARTIBARTFAST
    Posted on February 9, 2013 at 1:08am

    My wife is a pre-k teacher and CSCOPE is something that will not be missed. Now the real work begins; finding out what kind of crap is buried in CSCOPE. Don’t let things stand still with this victory. We need to go through this curriculum and dismantle it piece by piece. Kudos to Senator Dan Patrick!

    Report this comment

    SLARTIBARTFAST  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:45pm

    .
    I keep trying to tell ya’ll Texas Sucks……

    These Stump Jumping Red Necks are All Hat and No Cattle……

    The term Goat Ropers fits them better……

    Report this comment

    SpankDaMonkey  
    • Couyon64
      Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:19pm

      FU la ******.

      Report this comment

      Couyon64  
    • txjb
      Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:52pm

      Hey obama voter , and where you live is better ?

      Report this comment

      txjb  
    • earache-my-eye
      Posted on February 8, 2013 at 10:31pm

      Monkey is not an odama slappy.

      Report this comment

      earache-my-eye  
    • lemkete
      Posted on February 8, 2013 at 10:45pm

      I can only guess by your avatar that you are from Lousy-ana. If you are, you need to go back to the swamp. If you’re not, then crawl back under the rock you came from. Either way jealousy doesn’t become you.

      Report this comment

      lemkete  
    • spfoam1
      Posted on February 8, 2013 at 11:48pm

      Go back to that toilet bowl called New Orleans then, and I’ll look forward to hurricane season without you. Too many of you monkeys came to Texas the last time nature flushed the toilet.

      Report this comment

      spfoam1  
  • RJJinGadsden
    Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:42pm

    Hey Texas, don’t take me the wrong way, I love your state and have been there many times. But, when are you guys going to tar and feather all of those Californians who have invaded your schools and run them out of the state on rails? I’ll gladly chip in for a reasonable amount of the ingredients.

    Report this comment

    RJJinGadsden  
    • VRW Conspirator
      Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:08pm

      RJJING….I happen to be one of those CA people that have come to TX…so is my brother and his family…and we did it for the RIGHT reasons….more freedom, liberty, and better governance. I also am a teacher…high school science…and I do my BEST to debunk the crap I find on campus from other teachers, that yes even in Texas, hang Chinese and Soviet flags in their classroom around displays praising Communism…all under the guise of being a “world history” lesson…
      you would be surprised at how many of my students try and pigeon hole me as a science teacher… atheist, liberal democrat, and such…
      I am more conservative, more libertarian, and more knowledgeable than 99% of educators I meet from ANY state…
      I tell my students I am a Constitutionalist…which they don’t understand…so I tell them I vote for the candidate that proves to me they will protect my Life, Liberty, and Property the most.

      One more thing about people from CA….Reagan was from there and there are still a LARGE number of CA residents that believe like he did and struggle daily to save our home for the 20 years of Progressive crap that has over run it….still others of us seek like minded friends in AZ, TX, ID, MO and other more conservative states…

      Sweeping generalizations just hurt the conversation….

      Report this comment

      VRW Conspirator  
    • spfoam1
      Posted on February 8, 2013 at 11:08pm

      It’s really hard to tell which ones came from California and which ones came from Mexico. Either way, I like the sound when I crush them in the corner with my boot. If Ayers ever shows up here we’ll fetch the tar and feathers, ’cause that’ll make a great YouTube video.

      Report this comment

      spfoam1  
  • BrutalTruth
    Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:30pm

    CSCOPE isn’t autonomous. There is still a responsibility and accountability chain. The other questions would be what’s the power structure and why does their power seem overly large.

    Report this comment

    BrutalTruth  
  • woodyee
    Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:57pm

    “Uniformity and sticking to the calendar were stressed over actual learning.”

    I wish that Blaze reporters had time for investigative journalism. I’d like to know if the curriculum coincided with State or Federal political announcements or news events, you know, reinforcing lessons learned, which is another psychological method of conditioning.

    Report this comment

    woodyee  
  • teawithjill
    Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:52pm

    I hope that this will put a stop to the progressives trying to turn Texas blue!!

    Report this comment

    teawithjill  
    • Sparky77
      Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:02pm

      teawithjill – It won’t stop them but this is a nice tactical win for us. Now we need to be pursuing the next tactical win.

      Report this comment

      Sparky77  
  • Hidden_Manna
    Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:49pm

    My entire family, as a team, made the most critical decision to home school ALL our children over 15 years ago. We saw the storm coming. THE ONLY way you can stop the TRASH that is the new ‘normal’ in our culture from being programed into our little ones – is to be the people our children see as real role models and sacrifice any ‘thing’ you have too in order to make it a priority… or you will end up with children that are lost. Children that will…

    “be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (2Ti 3:1-4)

    Report this comment

    Hidden_Manna  
    • Sparky77
      Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:00pm

      Hidden_Manna – Nice work!

      I wanted to point out that there is another good option for many parents. There are now hundreds of classical Christian schools throughout the country, many of which are very good at:

      - Maintaining very high academic standards
      - Maintaining a Christ-centered focus

      A very good option for many parents who may currently be home schooling or considering doing so.

      Report this comment

      Sparky77  
  • HelloWorld
    Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:46pm

    Not to worry – Great Hearts Academies has been asked to start schools in Texas and Tennessee Great Hearted Children will be learning the pre 1950′s Great Books, the Socratic method of teaching by Great Hearted Teachers’, all with degrees in their respected disciplines. What a novel approach. An Educator with a Master’s in Biology teaching Biology? http://www.greatheartsaz.org/

    Report this comment

    HelloWorld  
  • Eastinfection
    Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:43pm

    unless your kid will be homeschooled by an incestual, gay, pedophile
    … in which case i would recommend public school.

    Report this comment

    Eastinfection  
  • Magyar
    Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:43pm

    Education systems are where the Progressive lefties are pushing their agenda. If states don’t re-route this insidious garbage, this indoctrination will guarantee total destruction of American.

    Report this comment

    Magyar  
  • Eastinfection
    Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:37pm

    “Teachers were also asked to sign a contract that would prevent them from revealing what was in the CSCOPE lessons or face civil and criminal penalties.”

    WTF? Were they instructed to say “that’s for me to know and you to find out”, too?

    Our kids’ lesson plans are CLASSIFIED info?

    This is what kills me…. If it’s such a great freikin program, why not give away ALL the info on it to maximize it’s reach? Why the ‘Cloak & Dagger’ BS?

    Report this comment

    Eastinfection  
    • njconservative56
      Posted on February 8, 2013 at 11:54pm

      Eastinfection, I think you answered your own question here. The obvious reason that the curriculum had to be classified is if parents ever got a true understanding of the lessons planned for their children they would be up in arms and demanding changes. By keeping it quiet they hope that most parents won’t find out about it until those plans have been administered to those young minds.

      Report this comment

      njconservative56  
  • Chuck Stein
    Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:35pm

    “Educators” (translation: “indocrinators) nationwide will on occasion refer to “Transparency.”
    “Transparency” is a homophone for what they, in fact, want: “TRANS PARENTS’ SEE” — i.e. beyond the view of parents.

    Report this comment

    Chuck Stein  
  • BODYBAG
    Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:33pm

    After reading how this was set up I ask myself why is anyone negotiating with these people?
    Throw them out completely.

    Report this comment

    BODYBAG  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:29pm

    I’m not a litigious person but, sometimes a few lawsuits against people like this are needed.

    Don’t sue the group, sue them as individuals.

    Report this comment

    The-Monk  
  • shorelineliz
    Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:26pm

    CSCOPE opened the back door for radical Islam to be taught in Texas schools along with a bunch of other filth. Good for Texas and Senator Dan Patrick and continue to kick A$$ and take names until you have kicked CAIR and ISNA and everyone else back to the Middle EAst where they belong. Sock it to the ACLU and the Southern Poverty Law Center and the NAACP and any other group as well and definitely the DNC and the LGBT Network that is trying to pervert and sexualize children from kindergarten on up. These people are straight up child predators! Lay the smack down again and again. I support you!

    Report this comment

    shorelineliz  
    • Freunlaven
      Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:40pm

      Now the parents need to be involved enought to make sure that the crap is actually thrown out of the system, and not just left becuase no one shows up to the meetings to complain.

      Report this comment

      Freunlaven  
  • loriann12
    Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:19pm

    Doesn’t matter to me, I’ll continue Home Schooling my 8th grader. I’m glad for those who can’t or choose not to home school though.

    Report this comment

    loriann12  
    • db321
      Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:38pm

      Texan’s owe a great debt of Gratitude to Glenn Beck for bringing C-Scope out in the open 3 months ago. I’m sure people said he was nuts, but I checked Glenn out, like he teaches us too, by
      text’d a Kindergarten Teacher in a Texas School and asked her if she was teaching C-Scope – Within a minute, she text’d me back and said “Yes.” Next Text she said, All of us Teachers hate it – it doesn’t make since.

      Report this comment

      db321  
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