ALBANY – Local education officials are lauding a new task force created by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to analyze the Common Core Learning Standards.

The governor recently announced the formation of the Common Core Task Force, which he said will review and make recommendations about the current Common Core and testing systems in New York state.

“The country is in the midst of an education revolution, as is this state. I have spoken to parents, teachers, superintendents and school boards all across the state, and I know the situation is critical,” he said in a video explaining the new task force, and the reasoning behind it. “I have heard the message clearly: we must take action, and we must take action now to fix our schools and we will.”

Cuomo has instructed the task force to review and reform the Common Core Learning Standards; review curriculum guidance and resources; develop a process to ensure tests measure up to curricula and standards; examine the impact of the current moratorium on recording Common Core test scores on student records; develop a plan where districts include parents in reviewing local tests being administered to analyze those tests’ purpose and usefulness; and review the quality of the tests to ensure competence and professionalism from the private company creating and supplying the tests.

Cuomo said the overhaul of the education system, which came with Race to the Top federal funding program, would have been difficult to institute even if the implementation had been perfect.

“I believe the goal is the right one. We all want (high standards in education),” he said. “But the way it was instituted failed.”

Cuomo added many educational officials and parents across the state are confused and anxious when it comes to the standards and it is now time to overhaul Common Core Learning Standards and the assessments that go along with them.

“As a parent, I believe our education system tests our students too often and for too long. We should relieve the unnecessary pressure on our children that detracts from the time spent learning,” he said. “There is no doubt that tests or assessments have a role in education … but, I think the number of tests should be reduced, including the local ones.”

Locally, many education officials are in favor of the new task force and its mission.

Carol Hay, retired Panama Central School District superintendent, thanked the governor for working hard at the issues in education.”

“Comfort in the classroom is key to success, which is why we are thankful that Governor Cuomo understands the level of anxiety that the State Education Department’s Common Core rollout has placed on students and parents,” Hay said. “We now have an opportunity to make New York’s education system a world-class system, and thank Governor Cuomo for his continued hard work on this issue.”

Mike Ginestre, Sherman Central School District principal, said progressing toward improvement is always beneficial.

“The Common Core brought us a set of improved, rigorous standards designed to prepare our children to achieve their full potential in life. That is why it’s imperative that we continue to move forward with the program,” he said. “I believe the information available to educators now on how to improve our practice is better than ever and continuing to improve. The Governor’s Common Core Task Force’s primary function is to continue to review the State’s learning standards in conjunction with administrators, teachers, and parents to meet the needs of our 21st century learners.”

Katie Campos, Teach for America Buffalo executive director, said her organization supports the task force.

“We support the Common Core in New York State, and also believe that the Common Core implementation system must be fixed because we need to have learning standards that prepare our children to achieve their full potential and that accurately reflect student performance,” Campos said. “The Governor’s Common Core Task force is a vital step toward making sure that those improvements are made and I am very excited by this action. Working together with all stakeholders, I believe we can fix the issues that have plagued the system’s implementation from its start and give our students the best education in the nation.”

Cuomo said just as other states are reviewing the standards, New York state must follow suit.

“The task force will include educators, teachers, parents, officials from the New York State Education Department, teachers’ unions and bipartisan legislators from both the Assembly and the Senate. It will also represent every corner of the state of New York,” he said. “The agenda of the task force is straight forward and clear: to overhaul the Common Core system and do a total reboot.”

Cuomo said the ultimate goal is to have “the best education system in the country for all our children.”

“New York must complete a transition in the modern education era, and this transition must happen in a way that instills confidence and not anxiety in our students and parents, and makes teachers feel supported and rewarded, not criticized,” he said. “I am eager for the task force to begin its work, and I urge parents and educators to participate in the process because this is about our children’s future and their education to determine their ability to compete in the world of tomorrow. They deserve every advantage we can give them.”

A new website, www.ny.gov/CommonCoreTaskForce, has been created to encourage transparency by the group which also features the governor’s video on the Common Core Task Force.