Education reform for our kids represents a true test of courage for legislators, and the Assembly Majority failed miserably on March 5th.
The Assembly Majority has denied students and parents immediate relief from another round of disastrous Common Core tests in April.
Instead of fixing a broken program that has hurt New York’s children and families, they have added more pain to an issue that still remains unresolved.
This was our last chance before April to put a moratorium on the Common Core problem.
Unfortunately, we still have a testing system in place that adversely impacts students, teachers, curriculum and ignores the challenges children with special needs are facing.
Wednesday we brought the fears and anxieties expressed by children, parents and teachers to the Assembly floor, and attempted to provide an immediate remedy to a tragically flawed public program.
As thousands of New Yorkers voiced their distress about Common Core, today’s vote shows that the Majority Conference was not listening.
I am proud that the Assembly Minority Conference has been the first and only legislative body to present a vote that immediately delays continued testing until we get the right program in place.
We need comprehensive reforms—not half-measures that fail to fix the root problems.
By voting against our amendment to delay April’s tests, the Majority has forced students and parents to go through another stressful season of Common Core.
Education reform for our kids represents a true test of courage for legislators, and the Assembly Majority failed miserably today.
Brian M. Kolb
Minority Leader
New York State Assembly
