Dear Commons Community,

In April 2012, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo convened the New NY Education Reform Commission. Through the Commission, the Governor brought together leaders from across the state and from diverse perspectives. They focused on a shared objective:

“developing an actionable course of reforms – based on proven models of success from within New York as well as other states and nations – that will provide the level of educational excellence that all New York’s school children deserve, that our State’s future economy demands, and that our taxpayers can afford.”

The Commission was tasked with performing a comprehensive review of the structure, operation, and processes of New York State’s education system. The Commission sought to develop long-term e”ciencies that will bring about both improved student achievement and greater cost-effectiveness in our education system. Comprising 25 expert members, the Commission held 11 public hearings throughout every region of New York, and received  and reviewed thousands of pages of testimony. Members heard from over 300 students, parents, educators, community and faith-based leaders, business and labor leaders, and experts from across the country about what is working and what needs to be improved to increase student achievement and lead to success both in school and in the workforce.

Its first preliminary report was released earlier this week.  It called for a number of changes in teacher and principal preparation, school financing, school district reorganization, extending the school-day,  full-day kindergarten, more technology, bridging high school and college, etc.

Most of the recommendations are not new.  Some are politically charged such as school district reorganization and school financing.  Others will take significant new resources.  The recommendations for teacher education programs  will surely have CUNY, SUNY and private college deans of education thinking.  For instance,  the recommendation for a bar-exam-style test for teachers has the support of Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, who also was a member of the commission.

We will have to wait and see what Governor Cuomo and the New York Legislature will do with this report.

Tony