The Core of the Matter

Growing increasingly frustrated with the role of standardized testing in the classroom, many parents around New York State this year protested by opting their children out of the state tests. A New York Times analysis found at least 165,000 children sat out of the tests in April. 

Responding to the criticism of testing from parents in mostly suburban, wealthier school districts, state Senate Republicans are pushing to reform the Common Core standards and reduce the use of tests.

“As part of the effort to address the (annual teacher evaluations), it is crucial that we pass some common sense measures that will help address Common Core issues,” Senate Education Committee Chairman Carl Marcellino said in a statement. “We need to reduce testing, allow the teachers to talk about them, release more of the questions back to teachers and students, make sure the testing is age appropriate, get the test results out quicker and have the Regents review and revisit the current standards.”

Bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Assembly Education Committee Chairwoman Catherine Nolan and former Senate Education Committee Chairman John Flanagan that would delay the teacher evaluation system also would require the state education commissioner to “conduct a comprehensive review” of the Common Core standards, while seeking input from education stakeholders.

The review would have to be completed by June 20, 2016. Afterwards, the state Board of Regents would be forced to “consider the findings of the review and vote to accept or reject the recommendations made by the commissioner within 60 days.”

“New York’s approach so far has led to an over-reliance on invalidated testing that has proven to be an unfair burden on New York State students and their families,” Nolan told City & State in March. “No one thinks overtesting our students prepares them to be successful college students or members of the workforce.”