Education Reform Commission Pushes For Longer School Day, Year In NY

BUFFALO, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A commission created by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has proposed overhauling the state'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 released Wednesday have been proposed before but blocked by politics or lack of funding. Gov. Cuomo said 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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