WHERE TOM STANDS ON THE ISSUES
Common Core
Tom distinguished himself as one of the top leaders in Michigan to oppose Common Core. Tom has been a long-time activist opposing numerous efforts to centralize education for decades, starting back in the early '90s, when he testified against the proposed "Michigan Model." He has also diligently fought other centralized schemes like Outcome Based Education (OBE), School to Work, and Goals 2000.
National science and social studies standards
Tom is a leader in fighting all efforts to nationalize education standards, including science and social studies. Tom's focus has always been to restore educational authority to local communities and parents themselves.
Tom continues to fight to defend and restore local autonomy and set state policy in the interests of parents and communities.
Transgender policies for kids
Tom opposes social experimentation on children, including the State Board of Education's 2016 move to allow, for example, boys who profess to identify themselves as girls to be permitted to use girls' locker rooms and bathrooms. Tom has spoken out publicly in the past against this kind of government action.
High-stakes testing
Tests can obviously be a useful tool for teachers to measure their student's achievement and where to focus additional instruction. Test results can also assist districts in measuring teacher effectiveness -- however, if too much weight is given to particular tests, it will often lead teachers to "teach to the test", instead of tailoring instruction toward what is best for their students. This is one reason why Tom opposed making the statewide assessment test a significant part of teacher's evaluations (he also simply believes in local control).
Since being on the State Board, Tom has lead the efforts to stop high-stakes testing being implemented by both the Feds and the State.
Special education
While in the legislature, Tom took the lead in standing up for parents of special education students. As Chairman of the House Oversight committee, Tom held an important, first of its kind, hearing on transparency and accountability of MDE employees, who were dealing unfairly with Special Education students and their parents.
As a member of the State Board, Tom continues to advocate for the rights of special education students and their parents.
Student data privacy
Tom has been a leader in fighting for privacy of student data. The state should not be collecting data on students, especially without parental consent. Tom introduce bi-partisan legislation to require parental consent for any state collection of individual student data and to prohibit the state from giving out the information to any other entity, including the federal government.
As a member of the State Board, Tom continues to advocate for student data privacy.
Charter schools
Parents, particularly in districts with failing schools, should not be forced to tolerate a school they feel is not good for their child. Tom as been a leader in making sure parents have choices. When he was the Michigan House Education Chairman, he oversaw the passage of legislation to uncap charter schools, for the first time since charters started in the early 90s.
As a State Board member, Tom continues to advocate for charter school options for parents.
Transparency
Tom was known as the first legislator to post his salary and benefits, office expenditures and names and salaries of his staff online. Tom will push to have the Michigan Department of Education do the same. All expenditures and all employees' names and pay online.
Tom distinguished himself as one of the top leaders in Michigan to oppose Common Core. Tom has been a long-time activist opposing numerous efforts to centralize education for decades, starting back in the early '90s, when he testified against the proposed "Michigan Model." He has also diligently fought other centralized schemes like Outcome Based Education (OBE), School to Work, and Goals 2000.
National science and social studies standards
Tom is a leader in fighting all efforts to nationalize education standards, including science and social studies. Tom's focus has always been to restore educational authority to local communities and parents themselves.
Tom continues to fight to defend and restore local autonomy and set state policy in the interests of parents and communities.
Transgender policies for kids
Tom opposes social experimentation on children, including the State Board of Education's 2016 move to allow, for example, boys who profess to identify themselves as girls to be permitted to use girls' locker rooms and bathrooms. Tom has spoken out publicly in the past against this kind of government action.
High-stakes testing
Tests can obviously be a useful tool for teachers to measure their student's achievement and where to focus additional instruction. Test results can also assist districts in measuring teacher effectiveness -- however, if too much weight is given to particular tests, it will often lead teachers to "teach to the test", instead of tailoring instruction toward what is best for their students. This is one reason why Tom opposed making the statewide assessment test a significant part of teacher's evaluations (he also simply believes in local control).
Since being on the State Board, Tom has lead the efforts to stop high-stakes testing being implemented by both the Feds and the State.
Special education
While in the legislature, Tom took the lead in standing up for parents of special education students. As Chairman of the House Oversight committee, Tom held an important, first of its kind, hearing on transparency and accountability of MDE employees, who were dealing unfairly with Special Education students and their parents.
As a member of the State Board, Tom continues to advocate for the rights of special education students and their parents.
Student data privacy
Tom has been a leader in fighting for privacy of student data. The state should not be collecting data on students, especially without parental consent. Tom introduce bi-partisan legislation to require parental consent for any state collection of individual student data and to prohibit the state from giving out the information to any other entity, including the federal government.
As a member of the State Board, Tom continues to advocate for student data privacy.
Charter schools
Parents, particularly in districts with failing schools, should not be forced to tolerate a school they feel is not good for their child. Tom as been a leader in making sure parents have choices. When he was the Michigan House Education Chairman, he oversaw the passage of legislation to uncap charter schools, for the first time since charters started in the early 90s.
As a State Board member, Tom continues to advocate for charter school options for parents.
Transparency
Tom was known as the first legislator to post his salary and benefits, office expenditures and names and salaries of his staff online. Tom will push to have the Michigan Department of Education do the same. All expenditures and all employees' names and pay online.