Now it seems that reformers want to reform their reforms. The “”reforms are “broken” and must be reformed.
A news release from Governor Cuomo’s office:
STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO ON THE COMMON CORE STANDARDS
“There has been an ongoing discussion about Common Core Standards nationwide, and in this state as well. I have said repeatedly my position is that while I agree with the goal of Common Core Standards, I believe the implementation by the State Education Department (SED) has been deeply flawed. The more time goes on, the more I am convinced of this position.
“A growing chorus of experts have questioned the intelligence of SED’s Common Core program and objective educators across the state have found the implementation problematic, to say the least. The new Commissioner of Education has inherited this problem and I understand has been meeting with parents, educators and students, and has heard the same concerns. Recently, SED has made comments about organized efforts to have parents choose to opt out of standardized tests. While I understand the issue and SED’s valid concern, I sympathize with the frustration of the parents.
“We must have standards for New York’s students, but those standards will only work if people – especially parents – have faith in them and in their ability to educate our children. The current Common Core program does not do that. It must.
“The fact is that the current Common Core program in New York is not working, and must be fixed. To that end, the time has come for a comprehensive review of the implementation of the Common Core Standards, curriculum, guidance and tests in order to address local concerns. I am taking this action not because I don’t believe in standards, but because I do.
“In the past, I employed an Education Commission to make substantive, unbiased recommendations on reforms to our education system. It has worked very well. I will ask a representative group from that Commission, including education experts, teachers, parents, the Commissioner of Education and legislative representatives to review the issues raised above and provide recommendations in time for my State of the State Address in January.”
Cuomo and his billionaire cronies are on the defensive, back-pedaling from the rebellion of opt-out, trying to regain the initiative without admitting error. Seems like this is a tactical maneuver to dampen parental anger in NY over the testing by deflecting the issue and changing the subject, making it about the Common Core Standards, not about the costly, abusive testing. Such rhetoric may buy Cuomo time to outmaneuver the rebellion from below, and he badly needs time now with Opt-Out parents on the offensive. Cuomo may also be testing strategies as a stalking horse for Hillary as mainstream Dems struggle to keep Hillary the front-runner–NYC Council Speak Meliis Mark-Viverito just came out for Hillary, another Dem heavy trying to lift Hillary out of her funk as Bernie edges closer. The next 6 months are a crucial time in this Pres. election season, and the national disaster of CCSS/PARCC/SBA hangs like an albatross around all mainstream politicians who are desperately seeking ways to sweep it under the rung, like “let’s convene a commission to study the problem,” etc.
“albatross around all mainstream politicians”. I’m inclined not to forget or forgive.
We are far enough along in the public school reform effort being led by those who wish to abandon public schools that they are now on the defensive about outcomes they are responsible for! Let’s be honest–education in NY State has become a fiasco under Cuomo and Tisch–now they want to hold their nose and try to find someone else to blame. It will not work for those two to try to lay this all on their lackey John King. They own this mess and parent, communities, and even the media are waking up to that fact! They got what they deserve! Putting humptdy dumpty back together again is their problem and no Commission is going to take responsilbity off their shoulders!! They deserve the mess they have brought on so many NY residents and kids! Look for a move back to local control–where each community will have to pick up the pieces of the mess Cuomo and Tuschie inflicted on our state!
Here is a modified copy of a response to this story that I posted over on Perdido Street.
Before we all think this is larger than it is, let us think about the following.
1) As others have pointed out, most notably RealityBasedEducator at Perdido Street, there is NO MENTION OF APPR OR TEACHER EVALS in this statement from Cuomo. That is the biggest thing. Its not what is mentioned that is important…thats just noise. It is what is NOT mentioned that we have to be focused on.
2) This is a continuation and ramping-up of a campaign that was started a few weeks ago to try mightily to pacify parents and take the edge off testing in the face of opt out. It is and will be all about coming down hard on teachers over opt out.
3) We must be hyper-clear now. The reform movement is about privatizing how education is administered within the state (and nationally for sure). The people that administer education are teachers (not administrators in districts, in spite of their claims otherwise). The reform movement seeks, after all the bullshit is stripped away, to privatize the money states pay to teachers….to redirect those funds and more, into corporate coffers. Sure, it wants money to do the tests and run the schools, but the big $$ is in taking the funds states pay to teachers. Lets be real. So, the reform movement’s entire goal is to remove current, organized teachers…to “scientifically” prove they are incompetent, deprofessionalize them, and then take over the task of delivering education and the said money. Make no mistake about this. The reform movement’s deep-center is about removing teachers.
4) In light of #3 above, Governor Cuomo is a strident political spokesperson for the reform movement. They have paid him. He is invested in them and they in him. There are few bonds he has that are tighter. The reform movement and Cuomo are not particularly interested in testing, common core, etc. These are just tools they have used to pursue their real objective (stated above in #3). They know as well as we do, no doubt, that the tests and common core are bullshit. Sounds strange, but the tests, even common core itself…its all arbitrary. What they are really after is us. Turns out that that is still where the laser-beam focus is. Cuomo and his kind, reformers, etc…all will fart around with the arbitrary stuff….they’ll add, take away, throw out, change, manipulate, modify all day long and twice on sunday all of the testing stuff to keep parents calm. Its not what they care about. A commission (wow!!!) will be formed and testing will be modified within the state. (Cuomo and reformers inside their heads are saying “so what?”) However, the absolute, laser-like focus on damaging and eventually removing teachers will continue and most likely pick up pace.
This commission means nothing and its results will mean nothing. That is for sure.
Did NYSUT declare victory yet?
Charter school debt- 18% return, in interest payments, to Wall Street.
Common Core, no direct benefit to Wall Street. Score 1, for Wall Street,. 0 for Silicon Valley.
Slimer!!!
Cuomo doesn’t really take advice from commissions, he advises them.
But Cuomo is a realist, when he is forced to be and there are no more escape hatches.
Lies and spin, lies and spin. and, yes, what about the destruction of public schools and teachers via, charter schools, vouchers and using invalid, tool for teacher evaluation. The parent answer to Cuomo must be to organize more parents and increase the number of opt outs. Then parents must attack Cuomo where it will hurt him most, in the ballot box. It will take time, but Cuomo has to be booted out of the governorship..
Mr Cuomo supports:
1) the Common Core Standards
2) the need to hold teachers “accountable”
3) the parents
4) the creation of a COMMISSION
5) (and the billionaires and millionaires…to whom he has sold out the 99% of the people of New York).
After all, as Cuomo says…it’s all about the children!
Thus…we have and hold for our generation…and for future generations to learn about the dark side of politics and its lack of morals and ethics…and the financial cesspool…and the intended destruction of public education in the state of New York…
…the Legacy of Andrew Cuomo
His commissions have been loaded with CV and resume padders and few practitioners – even fewer who teach students with the greatest needs. I hope it is different this time.
I don’t think it matters. He’s buying time and positioning himself for the eventuality of a huge opt-out and voter rebellion.
He’s just stoking the fire though.
Garbage like Duncan and Cuomo policy must be permanently deleted.
Amen!
Don’t trust this snake any further than you can throw the moon with your own hands. Anyone who thinks he deserves another chance is setting themselves up to be a fool.
I don’t!
I take it that someone just realized that 200,000 children might have as many as 400,000 parents.
It’s about time!
It would be great to see the people of New York pull a “Cuomo” on the reptilian governor himself.
As a parent who had two children opt out of last year’s exams…I would propose a “commission of the people of the State of New York”.
A commission that would include 200,000+ students…400,000+ parents…
…tens of thousands of public teachers…and other educational professionals…
…supported by many, many more family members and relatives of all of the above, including police officers, firefighters, those who proudly serve in our armed forces, and hundreds of thousands of other concerned New Yorkers…
A commission of the people of New York…the true protectors of our children and our public schools…defenders of the values we believe in, hold dear to ourselves, and will fight for…
…demanding the Arrest…the Prosecution…
…and the Sentencing for High Crimes and Treason of Cuomo…
And that the people of New York line every street, that Cuomo’s ride to prison passes through.
Our Commission to remove Cuomo from the office and position that he uses daily against our citizens.
“We must have standards for New York’s students, but those standards will only work if people – especially parents – have faith in them and in their ability to educate our children.”
So, standards must be able to education our children. How interesting.
Ed, apparently if the people don’t “believe” in the standards, then they don’t work. You gotta believe.
…to educate… instead of …to education…
“Standards educate children”. The fatal flaw exposed, after
(1) spending billions (2) developing the reprehensible idea of children trapped in a human capital pipeline
(3) interrupting schooling to sell an experimental business product
(4) libeling and slandering teachers, and (5) attacking democracy..
A testament to the failure of Silicon Valley’s soul, political influence and money.
Duane Swacker, a frequent respected guest in Diane’s living room, receives praise in an article posted this afternoon at Truthout, The article is written from Sweden, by Anna Thomsen of the Hampton Institute. The title is, “Private Global Interest Organization Performs Corporate Takeover of Our Education Systems”. Her reference is to OECD and PISA.
Give all of these puppets a rebellion.
They’re asking for it.
Opt Out.
He just nailed down the “Hypocrite of the Year ” award for 2015.
I felt myself stepping into hipboots as I read Cuomo’s line.
Think he’s taken a cue from Christie, who had
•Commissioner David Hespe appoint a community committee when Cami Anderson’s Newark state superintendent contract was renewed against public wishes in 2014. (Names weren’t listed publicly; Hespe’s assistant couldn’t provide info to DoEd caller.
•CChristie also named committee for CCSS, with a short deadline that wasn’t met
•a new 2015 panel re Newark Public Schools’ return to local control–5 Christie appointees/4 Mayor Baraka appointees. Before June 2015, none of the four state takeover districts needed panel to work toward local control.
Think there’s also a SpEd committee.
Finally! Cuomo is finally realizing that his voting base is disgusted with his push for CC and he’ll lose the next election if he doesn’t change his policies on education.
And if changes don’t occur it will be the SEDs fault, not his.
Cuomo is JUST a politician. He lies!
How do we know the commission will be “unbiased” if the governor does the choosing? He should have to ensure that parents and experienced public school teachers serve on his commission.
Don’t you love it when the BSers want to set up another BS commission? This is Christie’s M.O. as well. Set up a commission–put some space between the issue and themselves–then kind of, sort of, forget about it. When will the reformers outright admit their reforms were merely a ruse to take monies from the taxpayers and divert that bottomless pit to their cronies? Ah, the smell of it.
NEVER!!!
Anybody remember how the Moreland commission turned out?
New Yorkers you have won! This is huge. Nice work. Hope Californians have as much moxie as you have! If not please fly out and help them.
There is no win with Cuomo, he’s a bald faced liar.
Cuomo is looking for more executive influence/control. Another “independent” commission to advise him, throw SED under the bus and push legislation that allows him to drive SED even more than he already has.
Nothing more than a 3 card mante game
Monte not mante..
A three card manatee game?
Wouldn’t Andrew Cuomo make a lovely mermaid?
I think more specificity is needed. Does he mean he will assemble TFA teachers, TFA administrators, and parents from KIPP, ICEF, and Success? Then he can declare everything is fine.
You have to love how he completely evades accountability, too.
1. blame the guy who is gone (King)
2. blame the people putting the policy in (“great policy, lousy execution!”)
3. send it back to a commission
No one at the top in ed reform ever answers for anything, yet their whole “movement” is based on accountability. Accountability is for 3rd graders, apparently, not “the adults” in this movement.
Doesn’t he owe the parents who complained an apology since he now admits they were right? I guess that kind of humility is unimaginable in our “leaders”- that’s too high an expectation.
Excellent points, Chiara. Well said.
TRANSLATION: “I’ve seen the latest polls and focus group results and the parents of NY are on to me and they’ve officially kicked my ass—and the asses of my Wall Street Buddies. Now I’d better quickly get out there and make it look like I’M the one who saw all this and moved quickly to support our parents and their kids who might crush me and terminate my dreams of living in the White House one day!”
(NOTE to the governor: You’re a bit too late, Andrew. We’ve already resolved to crush you—electorally speaking—and your pipe dreams of residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue are going up in smoke!)
Is the pendulum really swinging or are we just part of a sleight of hand ruse?
As a deadline creeps closer and school districts all across New York State huddle in negotiations with local teacher associations to agree on a new evaluation plan, under the threat of a loss in state aid, a prominent Regent and Governor Cuomo have either come to their senses or are imitating Penn and Teller.
Regent Tillis of Long Island said to a forum of teachers, “I oppose the use of standardized tests to evaluate teachers and principals,” and “not admitting a mistake is making a bigger mistake.” He also called for an end to the use of the state’s so-called “growth scores,” and he recommended changes in state law that would allow more emphasis on local measures of achievement. These would include “Student Learning Objectives” — assessments adopted by school districts — as well as teacher-written tests and “portfolios” of students’ classwork. He also made a point to say he was speaking as an individual and not for the Board of Regents.
At the next meeting of the Board of Regents on Sept. 16-17 they will be voting to make the new teacher-principal evaluation rules permanent. The question remains, will Tilli’s vote reflect his bold statement to teachers or will he say once again he has no choice but to continue the status quo? Are his words just a distraction from the criticism he has been receiving, much like a Penn and Teller trick? I hope not.
New York Governor Cuomo issued a press release today stating ,
“The fact is that the current Common Core program in New York is not working, and must be fixed. To that end, the time has come for a comprehensive review of the implementation of the Common Core Standards, curriculum, guidance and tests in order to address local concerns. I am taking this action not because I don’t believe in standards, but because I do.”
He promised to ask a representative group from his former Education Commission, including education experts, teachers, parents, the Commissioner of Education and legislative representatives to perform a comprehensive review of the implementation of the Common Core Standards, curriculum, guidance and tests in order to address local concerns.
Cuomo’s sleight of hand has been exposed before. I don’t trust him anymore than I would trust the guy on the corner playing 3 Card Monte.
Cuomo states, in his press release, that he believes in the standards and he blames the NYS Education Department for its faulty implementation, even though he held state aide hostage until his vision for implementation was adhered to. Cuomo goes on to say he sympathizes with the frustration of parents yet he refuses to visit with them at the schools where their children go.
Cuomo refuses to meet with teachers, refuses to visit our classes, and he knows full well that he continues to hold state aide hostage today, until teachers agree to his faulty rollout of Common Core. Notice he is not calling an immediate halt of his new evaluation plan!
What do you think? Is that pendulum swinging or are we the target of a sick magic trick?
It’s a trick. He feels more beholden to the hedge funders than to the people who can vote him into or out of office.
“the time has come for a comprehensive review of the implementation of the Common Core Standards, curriculum, guidance and tests in order to address local concerns. I am taking this action not because I don’t believe in standards, but because I do.” — Andrew “Oh no” Cuomo
“The time has come,” the Governor said,
“To talk of many things:
Of Common Core — and standard tests — of passing score — and VAMs —
And why the schools are failing [Not!] —
And whether pigs have wings.”
“Poor Execution”
Iraq and school reform
Are really a success
It’s simply execution
That makes them seem a mess