ALBANY –
Governor Andrew Cuomo Monday announced creation of a Common Core Task
Force to review and make recommendations to overhaul the current system
and the way students are tested. The recommendations will be due by the
end of the year.
“This country is in the midst of an education revolution, as is
this state,” the governor said. He said he has spoken to parents,
educators, and administrators from across the state. “I know the
situation is critical – I have heard the message clearly: we must
take action and we must take action now to fix our schools. And we will.
Port Jervis Mayor Kelly Decker is also a seventh grade social studies
teacher in Port Jervis and a parent and he said parents and teachers have
stressed concern over common core standards and formation of the task
force is a positive step in listening to their needs.
? “There was a quick implementation of the Common Core, which didn’t
leave any time for review, didn’t leave time input from both educators
and administrators and they were quick in rushing it out. Now the governor
is stepping back and saying we really need to review this and take the
right steps and make sure it works for everybody,” he said.
Middletown Mayor Joseph DeStefano believes the implementation by the state
Education Department “has been deeply flawed. The more time goes
on, the more I am convinced of this position.”
DeStefano said New York students “deserve a fair and accurate assessment
of their performance, and the truth is that the Common Core is in much
need of a restart.”
Yonkers Mayor Michael Spano and School Board President Dr. Nader Sayech
both said they support the governor’s review.
Cuomo is “taking an important and concrete step” to address
the concerns of parents and teachers, they said. “This is about
giving every student the education they deserve, and we encourage the
task force members to undertake an exhaustive and comprehensive review
of the Common Core in order to help us ensure that our students are receiving
the best education possible.”
Sullivan County Legislature Chairman Scott Samuelson said the state “must
have strong learning standards that educate all of our students and help
them tap into their full potential – however, those standards must
also be sensibly implemented and should not cause undue anxiety to students,
parents and educators.” Samuelson said the task force “has
the opportunity to ensure that this balance is met in New York State.”
Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus called Common Core “an unnecessary
source of apprehension for students, parents and teachers.” He said
the community “needs to be focused on ensuring education can be
a process of learning and not just a set of rigid teaching standards.”
