Governor Cuomo Pushes For Review of The Common Core Standards

“The fact is that the current Common Core program in New York is not working, and must be fixed”, it continues.

“I am pleased to see that Governor Cuomo has listened to calls from multiple stakeholders to review his position on the reform agenda”, said Kenneth R. Bossert, superintendent of the Port Jefferson school district.

Common Core has been under fire and was an issue raised by Cuomo’s opponent, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, during the 2014 gubernatorial campaign. These critics have been extremely vocal about their concerns, too, flooding public forums across the state to discuss ways to both cope with its practices and mobilize political opposition to fight back and eventually have it repealed.

As News 12 has reported, more than 60,000 Long Island students opted out of this year’s English and mathematics exams.

The frustration people feel about math homework is often directed towards the Common Core standards, but Ellenberg says that’s misdirected. Many parents said their students and schools were ill prepared for the higher standards and the tests that measure students’ progress.

As Syracuse.com reports, Cuomo laid the blame for Common Core’s failure on the state’s Department of Education – the one state agency that is not directly under the control of the governor’s office.

Reaction came in from a number of officials and organizations, including the new State Education Commissioner, MaryEllen Elia. He said the commission will offer recommendations early next year. “So it’s with great relief that I read his comment because maybe we can move on and we can get into place something that works for kids”.

“It is laughable”, she tells the Press via email.

Jane Robbins with the American Principles Project says “opt-out” movements are growing.

“While I’m pleasantly surprised that Governor Cuomo has finally started listening to the concerns of parents, teachers and students, it has not come without serious consequences”, he said in a statement. But states have suffered backlash as these standards have been rolled out, become the basis of standardized testing and affected teacher evaluations.

He added that Elia “inherited this problem” and “has been meeting with parents, educators and students, and has heard the same concerns”. “Nevertheless, it is a testimony to the power of the Opt-Out Movement”.

Among the 24 members of the first Education Reform Commissions was Carrie Remis, a Rochester-area education activist and founder of the Parent Power Project, as well as SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten.