Two Frewsburg residents contacted me with questions. Concerned about his grandchildren being taught using Common Core, the grandfather wanted to know Frewsburg’s results on state assessments. Another resident wondered what questions should be asked of prospective applicants for Frewsburg’s superintendency opening.

Frewsburg data show very high failure rates for students grades 3-8 for 2013-2015; a slight drop is seen for 2016. Failure rates show the magnitude of the problem. The following percentages are the failure rate averages for each year: English Language Arts: 72, 71, 74 60; Mathematics: 72, 67, 64, 59. More than half of district students continue to fail state assessments. Parents and district residents should have serious concerns about these data.

Grade 8 math failure rates were inordinately high: 2013, 77 percent; 2014, 97 percent; 2015, an astounding 100 percent; and 2016, 89 percent. These data are troubling for students moving into high school.

Based upon data, the following questions were created to ask Frewsburg superintendency applicants, or applicants for any district:

Without permission from We the People, an independent, globalist-leaning group, sanctioned by President Obama, used Race To The Top funds to shanghai states to adopt Common Core standards and curricula. Neither standards nor curricula had any research validation supporting them. The results have been weak and tragic in many cases. Common Core places high focus on diversity and multiculturalism contrary to past educating about our western heritage. What is your position on Common Core? Please be specific.

The commissioner of education recently stated that districts no longer need to use Common Core curricula. What curricula would you propose to replace Common Core?

Since the early 1960s, education in the United States has lurched from one fad to another, all without any research validation. There was no demonstrable rise in achievement levels. The gap between minority and white students did not close using these fads. What is your plan for raising achievement levels in Frewsburg district which currently has poor results on state standardized assessments?

United States PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) scores in mathematics dropped 18 points for 15-year-old students since 2009. Frewsburg math failure rates are unacceptably high. What specific research-validated programs, or programs with longevity of proven worth, would you use to better prepare students in mathematics K-12?

English Language Arts K-12 has been dumbed down in New York using Common Core. Students once read classic literature, wrote strong essays in excellent cursive, had well-developed vocabulary and excelled at spelling. What specific curricula would you use for ELA to improve reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, writing and cursive writing?

Computers were installed in many schools K-12. Scores flat-lined showing no improvement in achievement. When high expense for purchase and maintenance forced districts to remove computers and return to using books, they found students performed much better. What is your position on the use of computers for student learning?

What research courses have you taken? In what ways does educational research contribute to and support your philosophy of education?

What specific things have you done during your career in education that credibly raised student achievement levels?

Parents concerned about high failure rates for Frewsburg students should raise the issue with the Board of Education. The board has legal authority over education in the district. There are powerful options to Common Core that significantly raise student achievement levels and better educate students.

Deann Nelson has a doctorate in educational psychology from University at Buffalo.