Dear Editor,
The following letter has been shared with the chancellor of the NYS Board of Regents and each member of the Gov. Common Core Task force.
Common Core – What is happening? Chancellor of the Board of Regents Tisch, “Our students deserve the best and most accurate assessment we can give them.”
N.Y.S. Education Commissioner Elia, “New York State teachers will be involved in every step of the test development process. We are in the process of putting together opportunities for practitioners throughout the state – teachers and administrators as well as school board members, everyone – to give feedback on specifics of Common Core.” #6 Mandatory Requirements of RFT: #15-008 “All materials must be held strictly confidential and must not be copied, duplicated or disseminated by any manner or discussed with anyone except as authorized by NYSED.” Three quarters.
Students – Hundreds of Thousands
Teachers, administrators, school board members – Thousands
Everyone – Population of New York, 14 million
Feedback on material held strictly confidential. Really?
Step 1: Suspend testing for the 2015-16 school year. This alleviates; opt out, refuse to take, confusion and stress. Continue what works, if practical and constructive.
Step II: Develop a communications network. Open meetings for sharing, accumulating summarizing and forwarding information, common locations for gathering written, emailed, twitter and other communicated information, sharing and documenting individual experiences without personalizing. At this point it is the experience associated with Common core that is significant. Identities do not matter; vindictiveness, retribution, and intimidation have no place. This is information, “specifics on Common Core.” Results and information on a regular, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis; provided to the Board of Regents, N.Y.S. ED, governor and the Governors Common Core Task force (15) members. One Pre-planned outcome is a shorter test with a different name.
Is this a constructive outcome? Can everyone involved in three months accurately evaluate the process? What is Common Core? Are there areas to be maintained with regards to national objectives, without testing? Who needs Common Core? Can it be un-adopted by the Board of Regents, rejected by the Legislature, or instituted by the Governor through Executive Order? Clearly identify your input, offer it respectfully, listen to the thoughts of others, and participate.
Sincerely,
Joe Albrecht
Owego, N.Y.
