Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick) today joined Long Island members of the Assembly Minority Conference to call for passage of legislation to reform Common Core. Assembly Bill 8844-A is comprehensive legislation with bipartisan support that would delay future Common Core testing until the 2016-17 school year for all students, and require a comprehensive review of Common Core by a commission of education experts.

“During my 13 years in the State Assembly, there have been a number of important issues that have come before me. Unfortunately, in the case of Common Core, reform has been stalled in an act of pure partisanship. My colleagues and I worked hard to create a comprehensive bill which had bipartisan support to establish a Blue Ribbon Commission to study Common Core. Our children, educators, parents and administrators all are feeling severe pressure and stress under the system. With one week left in the legislative session, we would be remiss if we did not deliver meaningful education reform,” said McDonough.

Last summer, members of the Assembly Minority Conference hosted a series of hearings across the state to gather input from students, parents, teachers, administrators, and education advocates. In January, the legislators released a report on Common Core, At the Educational Crossroads, and offered a comprehensive plan, the APPLE Plan, to deliver the reforms needed. Assembly Bill 8844-A is one of several measures which resulted from the information gathered.