ALBANY, N.Y. (Jan. 9, 2019) – A bill filed in the New York state Senate would end Common Core in schools throughout the state.
Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) introduced Senate Bill 421 (S421) on Jan. 9. The legislation would discontinue Common Core educational standards in New York state.
“Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the department shall discontinue implementation of the common core state standards developed by the common core state standards initiative. Any actions taken to adopt or implement the common core state standards are void.”
There has been a strong backlash against Common Core in New York, with thousands of parents opting their kids out of associated standardized testing.
While the proposed law would technically end Common Core in New York, the process is not without potential pitfalls. As Shane Vander Hart at Truth in American Education said about a similar bill passed in Tennessee, legislatures often do little more than to create “rebranded” versions of the same program. Even if the new state standards completely reject Common Core, it doesn’t mean the state won’t continue to allow the federal government to influence its education system. It will require public and legislative vigilance to completely push the feds out of education in New York.
BACKGROUND
Common Core was intended to create nationwide education standards. While touted as a state initiative through the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), the U.S. Department of Education was heavily involved behind the scenes. Initially, the DoE tied the grant of waivers from the No Child Left Behind Act to the adoption of Common Core, using the standards as powerful strings to influence state educational policy. The Every Student Succeeds Act passed by Congress in 2015 prohibited the DoE from attempting to “influence, incentivize, or coerce State adoption of the Common Core State Standards … or any other academic standards common to a significant number of States.” ESSA gives more latitude to states and local school districts in determining standards, but the feds still maintain significant control over state education systems. States are required to submit their goals and standards, along with a detailed plan outlining how they plan to achieve them to the DoE for feedback and then approval.
Even with the federal strings cut from Common Core, for the time being, it is still imperative for each state to adopt its own standards independent based on their own criteria. The feds can once again use these national standards to meddle in state education at any time if they remain in place. Just as importantly, one-size-fits-all standards simply don’t benefit children. State and local governments should remain in full control of their own educational systems.
Rejecting nationalized education standards is the first step toward bringing true academic choice, and freedom. Passage of this legislation into law represents a positive step forward for the people of New York and a path for other states to follow.
WHAT’S NEXT
S421 was referred to the Senate Education Committee where it must pass by a majority vote before moving forward in the legislative process.
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