An incredible panel of education experts made preliminary recommendations on March 10 to Gov Andrew Cuomo, Democrat of New York, recommendations aimed at improving the quality of education in the state through a more appropriate implementation of the Common Core that safeguards student data and eliminates over-testing of students.
N.Y. state flag (JeromeG111 via Flickr)
On the panel of experts and key stakeholders were state Sen John Flanagan, Senate Education Committee Chair; Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, Assembly Education Committee Chair; Linda Darling-Hammond, Charles E Ducommun Professor of Education, Stanford University Graduate School of Education; Todd Hathaway, teacher, East Aurora High School in Erie County; Alice Jackson-Jolley, parent from Westchester County; and others.
The basic goals for education in New York, as provided by Mr Cuomo in a press release, include
- Having high, real-world standards for learning
- Supporting Common Core without harming students in implementation
- Not putting test results from grades 3–8 on permanent records
- Reducing over-testing
- Halting ties to the cloud-based database inBloom
Mr Cuomo said he would evaluate the report and take any appropriate action, but I think this is a list well-meaning people can agree on. It might contain a few compromises, but the education we provide to students in most public schools at this juncture is diminished by an approach that has thrown too many reforms at them simultaneously.
Some of the reforms are no doubt good, but because they are lumped together with all the reforms that are bad, they have no chance to shine. Compromise will help that situation. Below are the panel’s recommendations to Mr Cuomo. For more details, consult the press release.
Discussion of the panel’s recommendations
Although it wasn’t the first point in the press release, the most important recommendation of the panel, in my view, is that the state “ensure ongoing parental and citizen participation and input into Common Core implementation”:
To build trust and confidence, and provide networks of New Yorkers who can assist educators and government leaders in the implementation of the Common Core, the Panel recommends the appointment of an independent public task force that includes parents, educators, legislators, and business, civic and community leaders to provide ongoing review of Common Core implementation across the state and make public recommendations as needed to replicate successes and address the need for further implementation modifications.
I would add that many districts in many states are doing this exact thing as we speak. I couldn’t have said it better myself, although from the first few moments I started working with the standards in the Common Core, I have said they need “modifications.”
But why limit input to New York? Do you not care about kids in North Carolina, Illinois, Massachusetts, Wyoming? This is an opportunity to create true public ownership of the public schools, and while New Yorkers need to focus on what’s happening in New York schools, ideas can and should come from anywhere. Lead the way by not building walls around New York.
The panel also recommended the state protect students from inappropriate high-stakes testing by
- Banning standardized “bubble tests” for young children
- Protecting students from high stakes based on unfair test results
- Using instructional time for teaching and learning, not over-testing
It also recommended that the state provide better support for parents and teachers by
- Treating parents as essential partners in Common Core implementation
- Ensuring that teachers receive the training and support they need and deserve
- Giving educators access to quality Common Core curriculum resources as quickly as possible
Finally, the report called on the state to protect student privacy by
- Halting the state’s relationship with inBloom
- Establishing strict data protection and security requirements, while ensuring that appropriate educational and operational data-sharing can occur
