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Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Pressure Mounting to Halt Evaluations Tied to Common Core - WNYC

Pressure Mounting to Halt Evaluations Tied to Common Core - WNYC:



Pressure Mounting to Halt Evaluations Tied to Common Core

Tuesday, February 04, 2014 - 06:18 PM

Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch, left, and Education Commissioner John King release 2013 state test scores. (Beth Fertig)
Legislative leaders are calling for a two-year break before the state uses its new exams to evaluate teachers or principals. In a bi-partisan push, lawmakers said the Board of Regents and the State Education Department should help local school districts develop curriculum materials adjusted to the new Common Core learning standards. 
But Gov. Andrew Cuomo urged patience. His communications director, Melissa DeRosa, issued a statement defending a "meaningful teacher evaluation system" and the Common Core learning standards adopted by many states.
However, she said Cuomo "believes that the way that Common Core has been managed by the Board of Regents is flawed, leading to too much uncertainty, confusion and anxiety among students and their parents. The strength of public education in New York is dependent on a rational system that is well administered."

Cuomo announced two weeks ago that he would assemble his own panel of experts and legislators to identify flaws in the roll-out and take corrective action by June. DeRosa