By Chris Bosch
The tougher Common Core education standards in New York are in hot water again. Politico recently reported that one of the nation’s largest teachers unions, New York State United Teachers, unanimously withdrew its support for the current approach to implementing Common Core, insisting on a three-year moratorium on the high-stakes consequences linked to Common Core exam grades, such as student graduation and teacher employment determinations.
One particularly contentious aspect of the Common Core reform has been the teacher evaluation system instituted as part of New York’s Education Law § 3012-c. With state test scores plummeting as students and teachers alike adjust to the new curriculum, teachers assert they are being evaluated too hastily without having received the proper training and materials necessary to phase in the standards. According to a recent New York Times article, Governor Cuomo sharply criticized any attempt to delay Common Core implementation as “yet another excuse to stop the teacher evaluation process.” The Times has also recently reported that the New York State Board of Regents tabled discussions regarding the use of teacher evaluations in employment decisions during the Common Core roll-out but are expected to pick up talks again in April after an opportunity for public feedback.
Teachers have a strong fairness argument. The Common Core seems to represent a significant-enough divergence from the traditional curriculum and exams that a grace period to allow for familiarization is called for. However, Governor Cuomo is committed to resisting further bureaucratic delay in implementing an evaluation system that is already state law. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for the embattled Common Core.
Sources
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/new-york-common-core-teachers-schools-education-102614_Page2.html
http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/LAWSSEAF.cgi?QUERYTYPE=LAWS+&QUERYDATA=$$EDN3012-C
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/08/nyregion/under-new-standards-students-see-sharp-decline-in-test-scores.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/11/nyregion/cuomo-says-education-boards-plan-dilutes-teacher-reviews.html?_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/12/nyregion/new-york-officials-stall-plans-to-tweak-teacher-evaluations.html