Questions for the Cuomo Commission
Governor Cuomo’s commission on education has an opportunity to change the direction of school reform.
Right now, the state’s school system is in trouble. Federal tests show that achievement in reading and mathematics in fourth and eighth grades has been flat across the state for most of the past decade.
In the one tested area that looked promising — fourth-grade mathematics — New York was the only state in the nation in which scores declined in 2011.
The commission needs to ask some tough questions.
First, where is the money going? How much goes directly to the classroom and how much is spent on expensive outside consultants and unnecessary state and local bureaucracy? How much is squandered on costly technology contracts that are poorly supervised and of dubious value?
Second, how can New York raise standards for entry into teaching? The state should require every new teacher to have at least a bachelor’s degree and an additional year of study and practice-teaching under the supervision of a mentor teacher. No one should be allowed to teach without a thorough preparation.
Third, how can the state redirect funding to provide high-quality early childhood education for 3- and 4-year-olds
Right now, the state’s school system is in trouble. Federal tests show that achievement in reading and mathematics in fourth and eighth grades has been flat across the state for most of the past decade.
In the one tested area that looked promising — fourth-grade mathematics — New York was the only state in the nation in which scores declined in 2011.
The commission needs to ask some tough questions.
First, where is the money going? How much goes directly to the classroom and how much is spent on expensive outside consultants and unnecessary state and local bureaucracy? How much is squandered on costly technology contracts that are poorly supervised and of dubious value?
Second, how can New York raise standards for entry into teaching? The state should require every new teacher to have at least a bachelor’s degree and an additional year of study and practice-teaching under the supervision of a mentor teacher. No one should be allowed to teach without a thorough preparation.
Third, how can the state redirect funding to provide high-quality early childhood education for 3- and 4-year-olds
