Comment period ends Nov. 14

By Ashley M. Casey

Staff Writer

The New York State Education Department is looking for feedback on proposed changes to the Common Core learning standards for math and English language arts.

In the fall of 2015, more than 10,500 teachers, parents and community remembers participated in NYSED’s AimHighNY survey on the math and ELA standards. Over the summer of 2016, two committees made up of more than 130 educators, administrators and parents made recommendations that would overhaul 60 percent of ELA standards and 55 percent of math standards. The recommendations are available for the public to review and comment on through Nov. 14.

“It was clear that there was strong support for high learning standards, but that adjustments were needed,” Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said in a video introducing the learning standards recommendations.

Divided into grade-level subcommittees, the two committees came up with revisions for the academic standards and suggestions for educator support.

ELA recommendations

Among the suggested changes to ELA Common Core standards are:

• Merging the “Reading for Information” and “Reading for Literature” standards, balancing both types of texts and providing guidance on text complexity.
• Revising standards for pre-kindergarten through second grade to include a “strong emphasis on the whole child and the importance of play as an instructional strategy,” as well as guidance for teachers on how to implement the standards and connect students with disabilities and English language learners.
• Forming a New York State Early Learning Task Force to handle ELA concerns for pre-K through second grade.
• Re-grouping writing standards to “clarify language and ensure writing expectations are clear.”

The ELA committee also recommended the creation of the following supports for educators:

• State resources and guidance for learning standards, which would include a “set of resources for standards, curriculum and professional development” and examples of instructional strategies.
• Preface and grade-level instructions to explain the purpose and context of the new ELA standards.
• Communication plan with parents.
• Glossary of terms used in the ELA standards.

Math recommendations

The math committee has proposed the following changes:

• Clarification and coherency of standards to help the progression of learning and the transition from one grade level to the next.
• Improving the “focus of major content and skills for each grade-level and course.”
• Balancing conceptual understanding, necessary skills and practical application.
• Creation of a glossary of verbs used in the math standards.

Make your voice heard

“The voices of the parents need to be heard. They need to review this. Teachers need to review this and be critical and be honest. And then reply, then respond and make comments so that changes can be made because this is our opportunity,” said Simone Thornton, a teacher at the Onondaga Nation School. “I’ve had the opportunity to have a voice. Now it’s in the hands of the public to have their voice heard as well.”

To learn more about the changes to Common Core and submit your feedback, visit nysed.gov/aimhighny. Select a subject and grade level to take the survey and leave comments. General comments on the Common Core standards may be emailed to [email protected]. The public comment period ends Nov. 14.