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Cuomo commission pushes longer school day, year

By Associated Press

Story Created: Jan 2, 2013 at 4:31 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jan 2, 2013 at 5:00 PM EDT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - A commission has proposed overhauling New York's public schools with longer teaching days and academic years, teacher competency exams, more pre-kindergarten and by recruiting top college graduates as educators.

Many of the recommendations have been proposed before but blocked by politics or lack of funding. Gov. Andrew Cuomo says Wednesday those remain major obstacles.

Some of the ideas are already in place to some degree, including teacher competency tests and using schools to address health, mental health and other social needs.

The commission noted Finland recruits the top 10 percent of college graduates into teaching, while the United States draws from the bottom third or half.

It also wants to reward top educators and consolidate administrations.

Cuomo may back some of the proposals in his State of the State speech.

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