Race for NY governor: Astorino blasts Common Core, pulls his kids from testing

04/01/2014

 

Image from Astorino campaign video

MYFOXNY.COM/AP -

Rob Astorino, a Republican running for governor of New York, said he and his wife are pulling their children from Common Core testing. His children are in third and fifth grade, according to the AP.

"Our family's protest tomorrow is a symbolic one," Astorino said in a four-minute campaign video on his website. "But as parents, we think it's important to take a stand. Our children aren't guinea pigs, Governor Cuomo, and we want them educated by teachers -- not faceless bureaucrats in Washington."

Astorino, the Westchester County executive, said that Common Core standards will wrench local control of classrooms from parents and teachers. Although Astorino has tied the controversial Common Core standards to his rival, Andrew Cuomo, even the governor has criticized the rollout of the testing.

Lawmakers in Albany are debating a budget that would keep Common Core test scores off the transcripts of students from third to eighth grades trough 2018.

Students First NY, a pro charter school education reform group, called Astorino's remarks "shockingly irresponsible."

"Rob Astorino is shameless; either he doesn't understand the importance of preparing kids to compete and succeed in the 21st century global economy, or he is purposely trying to stoke fear as a cheap political stunt," the group said in the statement.

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