NY'ers split on Common Core; Majority OK paying more taxes for Pre-k
Kelly Fay
New Yorkers remain split over the State Education Department's controversial new learning standards, a recent poll says. The Siena College Research Institute released a survey of registered voters Tuesday showing they are divided on whether the Common Core curriculum is better preparing students for college or careers.
According to the findings, 36 percent of respondents said the new standards are too demanding, 24 percent said they are not demanding enough and 23 percent said they are about right. Forty-six percent of voters said they are confident the standards are better preparing students, but 47 percent said they are not confident in the curriculum. New Yorkers also support a two-year delay on the implementation of the Common Core by a margin of 50 to 36.
"Even as the debate over the Common Core rages on, New Yorkers' attitudes about the Common Core have changed very little over the last three months," Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said. "On the issue of state testing in public schools, 45 percent say there's too much of it, down from 52 percent in November."
The Education Department has said the adoption of the curriculum did not require any additional testing in schools. However, 41 percent of voters are under the impression the Common Core has increased testing as opposed to 30 percent who say it has not changed the number of state tests.
http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2014-02-25-86933.113122-NYers-split-on-Common-Core-Majority-OK-paying-more-taxes-for-Prek.html