Heard Around Town: Survey shows a Common Core review is wanted in New York

In a soon-to-be-released survey, 47.8 percent of respondents said conducting a review of the Common Core assessments to ensure they are age and grade appropriate is the most important improvement that could be made to the controversial standards.

High Achievement New York, a nonprofit coalition largely made up of business groups, used SurveyMonkey to conduct the sample. The online questionnaire was answered by 900 adults in New York state. Participants were asked to choose between five choices when asked: "In your opinion, which of the following recommendations is the most important?" 

The second choice, with 31.3 percent, was reducing the amount of time spent taking the assessments as an important improvement. Far behind in the survey was using adaptive, computerized tests that replace paper, “fill in the bubble” assessments, and speeding up the time it takes to get student test scores back to parents, teachers and school districts. 

On Sept. 3, Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered a “comprehensive” review of the Common Core standards, and last week, state Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said the tests would be once again shortened. 

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