New York Education Commissioner John King met with Rochester-area business leaders and educators Thursday. The goal of King’s visit was to garner support for the implementation of the Common Core Standards. New York is one of 46 states implementing the Common Core which is a set guidelines to help ensure students are prepared for college and the work-force. King said the business community can play a key role in assisting this effort.
"Communicating to employees, to communities, to school board members why it is urgent that we successfully implement the Common Core,” said King. “Why it is important for districts to prioritize professional development for teachers around the Common Core. Why it is important that we take on the challenge of more challenging assessments that reflect the Common Core," King said.
King asked local business leaders Thursday to support the State in implementing the Common Core in area districts. He also asked for their assistance in investing in early childhood education and career and technical education.
Commissioner King said if the State can tackle the gap between expectations in grades K-12 and expectations for college and the work-force, it would have a huge impact on the economy.
"There was a study done recently at Stanford University that showed if we raised our math achievement in the United States just to the level of Canada, it would add a trillion dollars a year in economic activity,” King said. “Closer to home in New York State if we added a single percentage point to the college attainment rate of adults in New York it would add $17.5 billion in economic activity," said King.
According to King, last year about 74% of students in New York State graduated after four years of high school. He added among those who graduated, less than half graduated with the skills needed to enroll and succeed in credit-bearing college courses. In high-need communities, King said two-year community colleges have up to 70-80% of entering students enrolled in remedial courses. That means they’re re-taking high school-level classes in college. King said the Common Core Standards can help change those numbers, but he said it requires the help of the business community to convey that accountability has to be part of the implementation process.
The Rochester Business Alliance hosted King’s visit Thursday with area business leaders and educators.