“As we finally end the 2015 session, we can look back knowing that some progress has finally been made for New York’s education system. The final, major bill established a review committee that would evaluate standardized tests and assessments to determine whether or not they are grade-appropriate. Additionally, a major component would introduce multiple changes to provide testing transparency for educators, students and parents. Both of these measures were included in the APPLE Plan, which my colleagues and I introduced to address the many concerns surrounding the hastily implemented Common Core curriculum.

“While we may have made slight progress, there is still much more to be done to address the education needs of our children. This year, more than ever, frustration with this state’s flawed curriculum has drastically increased. From a record number of standardized testing opt-outs to a rejected teacher evaluation system, the message from teachers, students and parents is clearer than ever: It’s time to go back to square one. Our students and teachers are not just a score, or a chart, or a graph – they are individuals whose needs deserve to be put ahead of these ill-conceived political games once and for all.”