The implementation of the Common Core learning standards will continue to move forward in schools across New York State. But, Board of Regents Chancellor Emeritus Robert Bennett says the state will help teachers if they are having trouble with the rollout of the standards.
“These students need these desperately, so we really have to dig deep here and find out what it is that people are truly objecting to,” said Bennett.
Bennett’s remarks come after area lawmakers announced their Common Core reform proposal, and after Governor Andrew Cuomo called the rollout of the standards flawed. Bennett says the state will work with teachers if they are having trouble with the implementation process.
“If flawed means that there wasn’t enough information, if there wasn’t enough training those can be corrected, and we will do that. We’ll look at the districts that are not ready, and we’ll take a look at the districts that are ready. What I would like to do is have the districts that are ready help the districts that aren’t ready,” said Bennett.
Bennett said New York State Education Department and Board of Regents will tweak the Common Core learning standards where they can, but he still believes the standards, which have been adopted by 45 states across the country, are the best way to get students to think critically, preparing them for college and career.
Bennett said if there are problems with the standards themselves the state would like to hear about it.
“If it’s reforming the standards themselves, New York cannot do that and separate itself from 44 other states. If there are serious identification issues with a standard in a grade level we would like to know what that is, and then share that with other states in terms of change or reform,” Bennett said.
The Governor also suggested the state create a panel of education experts and members of the legislature to review the rollout process. Bennett says the New York State Education Department and State Board of Regents are open to any suggestions that would come from the panel.