By Glenn Blain
Republican candidate for governor Rob Astorino tried to steal some attention away from the looming Democratic primary battle by releasing his campaign's education agenda.
Astorino, the Westchester county executive, released a 15 point plan to improve public education that, not surprisingly, starts with abandoning the Common Core curriculum. Astorino has made opposition to the Common Core a focal point of his campaign and has gone so far as to create a ballot line dedicated to its repeal.
"I am a product of New York public schools, and I have seen them serve as a ladder to success for a generation of New Yorkers," Astorino said. "Sadly, though, politics and bureaucracy have stifled the ingenuity of teachers in the classroom, and a one-size-fits-all mentality, in the form of the experimental Common Core curriculum, has come down on high from the bureaucrats in Washington, all but negating what's unique in each student. This bold plan will replace Common Core with high standards achieved at the local level, with the input of parents and teachers, and it will make the governor's office directly responsible for school improvements through an executive-appointed State Education Commissioner."
Astorino's plan also calls for, among other things, increased vocational training and greater availability of science, technology, engineering and math programs. It also would reduce reliance on "high stakes assessments," and increase "life skills training," such as nutritional and financial literacy instruction.
Astorino also wants to reform the state Board of Regents by having its members directly elected by the public instead of appointed by the Legislature. The education commissioner, under Astorino's plan, would be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Board of Regents.
"With higher standards, more educational choices that better suit individual talents, and increased parent involvement -- which I will champion as governor -- New York schools will improve significantly," Astorino said.
Astorino's plan:
1 - Replace Common Core and with standards and curriculum developed by in-state educators with input from parents.
2 - Develop more accurate measures of student, teacher and school performance, reducing reliance on high stakes assessments.
3 - Reform Board of Regents by creating an elected 13-member board.
4- The governor appoints education commissioner who must be confirmed by the Board of Regents with a majority vote.
5 - Increase availability of vocational training in schools for careers in home economics, carpentry, mechanics, electrical, etc.
6 - Increase coordination between community colleges, local school districts and local industry.
7 -Increase Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in schools.
8- Create three new diplomas: Career and Technical Education (CTE); STEM Regents; Academic Regents.
9 - Ensure full funding for special education services.
10 - Increase life skills training in schools, such as nutritional literacy instruction in middle school and financial literacy instruction in high school.
11 - Provide more school choices for parents of children in schools determined to be failing, including more charter school availability and vouchers for private or religious school.
12 - Pass the Education Investment Tax Credit to encourage more private donations to public and private schools.
13 - A new marketing campaign to encourage greater parental involvement in their child's education.
14 - Combat chronic absenteeism.
15 - Begin foreign language instruction in elementary school.