Amid recent high profile denouncements of the New York State Common Core education standards and State Education Commissioner John King’s having to cancel and now reschedule and restructure informational meetings on the standards because of the contentious atmosphere, Town of Webb Superintendent Rex Germer and Principal John Swick both said they are taking a cautious approach to this relatively new program.
Adopted by the board of Regents in 2011, the Common Core learning standards are a set of goals and expectations for what students need to learn in English language arts and mathematics at each grade level to ultimately be college- and career-ready.
All but four states have adopted the standards. New York began testing against the standards last school year for grades three through eight.
The outcomes of testing represented a drop in proficiency statewide, but also the setting of a new baseline. In a letter to parents of Webb students dated August 21, 2013, Germer stated that Town of Webb scores from the spring of 2012 were indicative of the state-predicted 30 percent drop.
“The rigor of the tests have increased with the Common Core standards. We are comfortable with what we are doing in our teaching, but looking at gaps in instruction,” Swick said.
The Common Core standards do not dictate how teachers teach, and the curriculum is set locally. Modules, optional course curriculum, developed at the state level, are being made available to help educators in meeting the standards. Schools can decide whether to adopt or adapt.
Swick said that Town of Webb school has taken on a hybrid model for utilizing the modules and are looking at the material in the modules as they were made available.
“We’re filling in where there are gaps, but not throwing out the great things we were doing,” he said.
There have been problems with the modules, however. Swick said that last year they didn’t have the materials by the date the state said they would have them, and not all of the modules have been produced.
Funding has also been a problem. Out of the $700 million allocated statewide, the amount provided to the Town of Webb school wasn’t enough to even finish the first year of teacher training.
Germer said there are good strong concepts in the standards.
“The timeline has been the toughest as the introduction of the modules and common core testing happened all at once,” he said.
He feels that much of the push back at the state level is not a questioning of the Common Core standards but rather the testing and the timing.
Twenty percent of teachers’ evaluations at Town of Webb school are based on student test scores, and this spring Regents exams based upon Common Core will be administered for Algebra I and 11th grade English.
Last week the NYS United Teachers Union called for a three-year moratorium on the use of state assessments for high-stakes consequences for students and teachers.
“Our teachers and the district have done a great job keeping their composure and taking it one step at a time,” Swick said.
“Education is changing drastically and we are all trying to keep up,” said Germer, adding that the Common Core standards have caused a great conversation about teaching.
“We are always trying to do what’s best for the kids,” he said.
Both Swick and Germer welcome questions from the community regarding the Common Core standards and can be reached by calling the school at (315) 369-3222. Information can also be found at www.engageny.org.