North Country Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush co-sponsored a bill calling for the elimination of "Common Core State Standards initiative."

The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort that established a single set of clear educational standards for kindergarten through 12th grade in English language arts and mathematics.

It was adopted by the majority of states, including New York as part of the federal "Race to the Top initiative."

The standards were designed to ensure that students graduating from high school would be prepared to enter college programs or the workforce.

The new standards have been opposed by union, criticized by teachers, and tough on students.

In a recent assessment test under the new standards the vast majority of students across failed to achieve "proficient levels."

For details on the scores visit click here

Blankenbush represents the 117th assembly district, which includes the St. Lawrence County towns of DeKalb, Gouverneur, Hermon, Russell, Edwards, Fowler and Pitcairn.

The bill follows:

Introduced by M. of A. GRAF, McDONOUGH, MONTESANO, GIGLIO, BLANKENBUSH,

BORELLI, RA, LUPINACCI, CERETTO, REILICH, FRIEND, CURRAN, TENNEY,

CORWIN, McKEVITT, HAWLEY, GARBARINO, LALOR, CROUCH, RABBITT, GOODELL,

DUPREY, McLAUGHLIN, KATZ, RAIA -- read once and referred to the

Committee on Education

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the common core state

standards initiative and the race to the top program

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-

BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 115 to

2 read as follows:

3 S 115. COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS INITIATIVE. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY

4 PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DISCONTINUE

5 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS DEVELOPED BY THE

6 COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS INITIATIVE. ANY ACTION TAKEN TO ADOPT OR

7 IMPLEMENT THE COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS ARE VOID.

8 S 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 116 to read

9 as follows:

10 S 116. RACE TO THE TOP PROGRAM. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW

11 TO THE CONTRARY, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DISCONTINUE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE

12 RACE TO THE TOP STANDARDS DEVELOPED BY THE RACE TO THE TOP PROGRAM. ANY

13 ACTION TAKEN TO ADOPT OR IMPLEMENT THE RACE TO THE TOP PROGRAM ARE VOID.

14 S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.