Rebranding Common Core - Same Old, Same Old

New York is in the process of revising Common Core Standards, at least that is what its State Education Commissioner claims. According to MaryEllen Elia, the State Education Department "isn't just tinkering around the edges and doing small, little things." Elia argues the proposed revisions "more clearly defined for our teachers across the state" what they should teach while maintaining "rigorous standards." Elia also wants to change the name of Common Core Standards to something like Academic Standards, which does not seem like a meaningful revision to me or other Common Core critics.

The NYS Allies for Public Education (NYSAPE) is very disturbed by both the revision process and result. NYSAPE charges "the majority of these changes consist of revised phrasing and language rather than substantive content changes" and "reflect a rigid adherence to the original Common Core anchor standards." They also accuse NYSED of using a restrictive process that would not allow committee members to make substantive changes. As a result, the state has produced what is "essentially just a rebranding of the Common Core." So parents and teachers can see what is actually going on, NYSAPE demands that NYSED "release all committee suggestions and/or dissenting reports that were not included in the draft standards."

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