Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) voted to take the first steps to stop Common Core’s negative effects in New York classrooms. The legislation Hawley voted for would end Common Core-aligned testing for grades K-2 and allow parents to prevent their child’s data from being shared with a third party. Hawley considers this an important first step, but will continue to push for a full moratorium on Common Core mandates that put a stop to high-stakes testing and promote a creative learning environment in New York classrooms.

“While there is still much left to do, this legislation brings us closer to removing Common Core from the classroom. We are going to continue talking to parents, students and teachers and turning their input into initiatives that create a positive, productive learning environment in New York’s schools,” said Hawley. “Now that we got the ball rolling, I call on my colleagues in the Assembly Majority and the State Senate to take the next step and put a moratorium on Common Core’s high-stakes testing until a full review can take place.”

The measure that would stop Common Core testing in New York classrooms is called the APPLE Plan. This is a comprehensive plan that would place a moratorium on Common Core testing until a full review of the Common Core standards is completed. The APPLE Plan also restores education funding that was cut in 2011 and gives teachers professional resources to further improve their ability to teach our children.