Cuomo Vows to Bust NY Public School Monopoly, But His Support for Common Core Tells Another Story
Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.) has announced his intention to take on New York's public education system if he is re-elected on November 4.
Speaking to the Editorial Board of The New York Daily News, Cuomo stated that he planned "to break what is in essence one of the only remaining public school monopolies."
Cuomo went on to say that the key to improving New York's education system is a combination of increased competition (through school choice alternatives like charter schools) and the more rigorous evaluation system for teachers that has been imposed in New York as part of the Common Core standards. From The Daily News:
"I believe these kinds of changes are probably the single best thing that I can do as governor that's going to matter long term," he said.
It's encouraging when any governor is willing to refer to the public education monopoly as what it is, espcially a Democratic governor from the Northeast. Unfortunately, Cuomo's continuing support for Common Core undermines the competition in education he's calling for. Rigorous evaluations for teachers might sound good, but schools (and states) can't differentiate themselves when they're all forced to adhere to the same one-size-fits-all standards. If Cuomo truly wants an education system that promotes maximum choice, he should let parents decide which school, which teaching method, and which curriculum is best for their children.
