Is the adoption of the Common Core State Standards voluntary, in New York State?

The purpose of this article is for information and to facilitate clarity in education by stimulating discussion regarding voluntary adoption of the Common Core State Standards in New York State.


Foremost, this analysis began with a review of Common Core State Standards for English Language Learners located at: http://www.corestandards.org/assets/application-for-english-learners.pdf

The following question with its answer is posted at: http://www.corestandards.org/frequently-asked-questions. The question states: How will states adopt the common core state standards?


The answer states: Adoption of the Common Core State Standards is a voluntary decision made at the individual state level. Some states will adopt the standards through their state boards of education, while others will adopt them through their state legislatures.


HOW VOLUNTARY DOES THE ABOVE SOUND????????

The Common Core State Standards Initiative is supposed to be voluntary as noted above. However, the NYS Commissioner of Education is on the Board of Directors of the CCSSO, the council, which is leading the Common Core State Standards Initiative. The councils’ leadership in the initiative is noted here in paragraph 2: http://corestandards.org/the-standards/english-language-arts-standards


David Steiner, is the CCSSO Council Director and Commissioner of Education and President of the University of the State of New York. Please meet him here as director of the council that is leading the Common Core State Standards Initiative, David Stein here: http://www.ccsso.org/Who_We_Are/Board_of_Directors.html.

He is the director of the council which developed the Common Core State Standards and he is bring in the standards to New York State voluntarily. Read! He is also the New York State Commissioner of Education. Please meet him here as the Commissioner of Education and President of the University of the State of New York: http://usny.nysed.gov/about/commissioner_steiner.html

http://usny.nysed.gov/about/commissioner_steiner.html

In closing, do you believe the Common Core State Standards will be voluntary in New York State, while the New York State Commissioner of Education is leading the initiative via his directorship  over the Common Core Statndards council? Is the Common Core State Standards Initiative the first step towards nationalizing education? Is the below Common Core State Standards Initiative map an example of nationalizing education? http://www.corestandards.org/in-the-states. You be the judge! On behalf of education, read! Clarification is greatly needed. Your responses are welcomed!