LUPINACCI, RA SUPPORTS THE NEXT STEP FOR EDUCATION IN NY

With his Republican colleagues, Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,I-South Huntington) today joined superintendents and principals from across the state for “The Next Step” press conference in the State Capitol to call for major reforms to New York’s public education system.

“School districts across New York State agree that Common Core standards and our current education system need reform,” Lupinacci said. “We need to eliminate the Gap Elimination Adjustment, which decreased education aid, and craft better education standards with the assistance of education experts and parents. Implementing The Next Step is exactly what educators, parents and students have been calling for, and I look forward to supporting this plan in the coming weeks.”

“Our plan rolls out a comprehensive and aggressive education agenda full of new proposals and fresh ideas,” said Ra, Ranking Minority Member on the Education Committee. “Over the past few months it has come as no surprise that many education and state leaders have reversed their initial backing of Common Core. I strongly believe that we cannot move forward until we adopt measures that correct our state’s volatile curriculum, beginning with a full restoration of funding for districts across the state.”

The Next Step proposal includes:

· Eliminates the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) and delineate a definitive plan for the full phase-in of Foundation Aid;

· Repeals the current teacher evaluation system and empower the Board of Regents to establish, with requisite input from education experts, school administrators, parents and teachers, a teacher evaluation system to be implemented statewide;

· Creates new state learning standards with the help and guidance of teachers, school administrators, parents, and education experts;

· Ensures all state assessments are age/developmentally appropriate and of the highest quality;

· Increases the transparency of the state’s testing program and protect teachers and students from the negative effects of state assessments until major reforms are made; and

· Provides increased flexibility for our students by providing them with multiple pathways to success and our local school districts by giving them the freedom and resources to develop curriculum locally.

“Eliminating the GEA will provide the funding for school districts to bring back valuable extracurricular activities that were cut in recent years, and repealing the Common Core standards will allow parents and teachers and other education stakeholders an opportunity to create a better education in New York State. Passing this legislation should be common sense for my colleagues in the Assembly,” Lupinacci said.

“As the Ranking Minority Member on the Higher Education Committee, I look forward to working closely with Assemblyman Ra, who is the Ranking Minority Member on the Education Committee to make sure our high school students have the opportunities and are fully prepared to pursue a degree in higher education,” Lupinacci concluded.

View the video here: https://youtu.be/jLrstu1d0gA

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