Al Sharpton an unlikely ally in support of Common Core exams

Supporters of the states rigorous Common Core tests have a surprising new ally: the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Sharpton on Friday blasted the state teachers union as irresponsible for urging parents not to allow their kids to take the upcoming standardized exams in math and English.

Im opposed to a widespread opt-out without real dialogue ... If you lose federal funding, what happens to those kids? Sharpton told The Post at the National Action Network convention in Midtown.

Gov. Cuomo and state education officials said school districts could lose federal aid for not complying with national requirements if too many students skip the exams, which are being given in Grades 3 through 8 starting Monday.

Sharpton said his criticism was directed at Karen Magee, head of the New York State United Teachers union, and other union activists who work mostly in suburban and upstate school districts.

Union officials are encouraging a boycott to protest a controversial new provision in the state budget approved by Cuomo and the Legislature, which more closely links teacher evaluations and tenure to student performance on exams.

We are encouraging parents to opt out, Magee declared last month.

Im opposed to a widespread opt-out without real dialogue ... If you lose federal funding, what happens to those kids?-Al Sharpton

But Sharpton said a boycott could hurt urban kids and pointed out that neither he nor NAN chapter leaders in upstate cities such as Buffalo and Syracuse were consulted about the opt-out campaign.

He also praised the leader of the city teachers union, Mike Mulgrew, and Randi Weingarten of the national American Federation of Teachers for taking a more reasonable position by leaving the decision up to parents.

See the original post here:
Al Sharpton an unlikely ally in support of Common Core exams

Related Posts

Comments are closed.