Common Core State Standards, the Virginia Longitudinal Data System, and changes to FERPA are analogous to the barrel, receiver, and magazine of a gun. As separate components, they pose no threat to anyone. However, if the components are assembled and loaded with “bullets” (individual student or parent data), the result is an “exchange” that can be integrated into a nationalized education system.
Implementation of these components is to education as the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act is to health care. The result will be to nationalize education and remove the parent from the center of their child’s education.
The Solution is to advocate for state and local legislation that reaffirms parents rights and provides parents with better educational choices for their children.