Is Common Core a positive influence on our children’s education

Dear Editor,

March ’17 to July ’17 was spent encouraging the State to consider “The State may terminate this contract without cause by 30 days prior notice.” Why? “This agreement, including all appendices, is upon signature of the parties and the approval of the Attorney General and the State Comptroller, a legally enforceable contract.” “All materials written or revised under this Agreement are to be held strictly confidential and may not be copied, duplicated or disseminated in any manner other than as authorized in writing by NSED.” 

Does this give the Commissioner of Education censorship privileges regarding educational information? 

School Administrators’ Manual Grades 3-8 2016 indicates, “Advise all staff, they are not to discuss any test questions or any other specific test content with each other.” Also found within the manual is a statement prohibiting identification of questions that do not count.

The Math curriculum grade 3 contains 2,274 pages. Pre K through Grade 6 has 16,310 pages.

How much time is devoted to “practice testing?” Who scores the tests? Who pays? Tests are given March and May. Results are due sometime. What are you waiting for, identification of Psychometric characteristics ability, aptitude and psyche? Is it really necessary? Time well spent? These are our children. Education is the fifth basic need following nutrients, water, oxygen and temperature. Without education the other four will never be used efficiently and effectively.

As you wait, consider testing regents@nysed and Commisioner@nysed, requesting an executive summary of the influence of CO12427 on the educational system in New York State or simply terminate CO12427.

There is a great deal more. What is needed to determine is if this program, “Common Core”, and now ESSA are positive influences related to our children’s education?

Sincerely,

Joe Albrecht

Owego, N.Y.