Johnson: ‘We have to figure out how to do it better’

Last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, citing growing pressure from education experts, announced that he authorized a comprehensive review of the state’s Common Core standards and their implementation.

The standards were first implemented years ago, and have been questioned more and more as time goes on. Many parents feel the new curriculum is too difficult for children and tests them too hard. The reliance on hours-long state tests for evaluations — mainly for teachers — has also created a growing “Opt Out” movement on Long Island, and in Rockville Centre in particular.

“I have said repeatedly my position is that while I agree with the goal of Common Core Standards, I believe the implementation by the State Education Department (SED) has been deeply flawed,” Cuomo said in a release. “The more time goes on, the more I am convinced of this position.

“We must have standards for New York’s students, but those standards will only work if people — especially parents — have faith in them and in their ability to educate our children,” Cuomo added. “The current Common Core program does not do that. It must.”

Cuomo said that the commission he is putting together will consist of education experts, teachers, parents, legislative representatives and MaryEllen Elia, the state Commissioner of Education. Cuomo said the board will provide recommendations to him for how to reform the implementation of the Common Core by his State of the State address in January.

“I think it’s about time,” said Dr. William Johnson, superintendent of Rockville Centre Schools, about the reevaluation. “I don’t know if in four or five months we’re going to be able to do anything meaningful. That being said, it needs to be looked at. No question about it.”

Johnson has been a vocal critic of the implementation of the Common Core. Instead of starting the new curriculum in many grades at once, he and other educators believe it should have began in kindergarten and advanced one grade each year with that starting class. It would take 13 years for a full rollout, but it would have been easier on students and teachers.

“I think the implementation should be scraped and started over,” said Johnson. “We have to figure out how to do it better.”