Regents Board May Ease Common Core Requirements
ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) - New York's top education officials say they understand the firestorm of criticism over rolling out tough new education standards.
But state Education Commissioner John King and Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch say Tuesday they remain committed to Common Core. They say they look forward to working with Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
"We are very committed to putting the new high standards in place," Tisch told WCBS 880's Sean Adams. "If we do not educate our students to a standard that our competitors are using across the country and internationally, then our middle class will continue to decline."
"We will not move away from our push for higher standards," Tisch added.
Regents Board May Ease Common Core Requirements
The tougher passing grades won't take effect until 2022 when today's third graders are high school seniors.
In the meantime, education officials will be "putting in place curriculum providing professional development for teachers and giving this whole rollout time to move in a thoughtful direction," Tisch said.
Education officials on Monday recommended giving students additional time to meet more rigorous requirements, among other changes. Cuomo called the Regents' recommendation too little, too late and questioned the board's performance.
Tisch says much of the criticism of the board comes from frustration over a complicated, generational transformation. She says they're making adjustments, but sticking with their core principles.
Tisch says that as someone who has raised three children, she knows how to adjust and hold her ground.
Meantime, some in the legislature are skeptical.
"I think the changes announced are a marginal improvement," Assemblyman David Buchwald told Adams.
He said lawmakers will consider "whether there really needs to be a wholesale pause on Common Core."
Cuomo said he does not like the two-year amnesty for teachers whose students test poorly. He said he thinks it will hold up teacher evaluations.
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