Corbett administration turnover reason to delay new Pa. academic standards, lawmaker says

One Democratic lawmaker says he’s concerned that Governor Tom Corbett’s administrative turnover is affecting Pennsylvania policy.

State Sen. Andy Dinniman of Montgomery County points to the state Department of Education, which has seen its secretary step down and a new nominee resign abruptly since May.

He says the turnover shows a “hobbled” agency.

Acting education secretary, Carolyn Dumaresq, says such high-level changes are not an issue.

“Thank you to the senator for worrying about the Department of Education,” she said. “I would remind the folks that the folks who are responsible for the implementation of Chapter Four and the testing have been there for over three and a half years.”

Dinniman raised his concerns at the final state Senate Education Committee hearing before new academic standards known as Pennsylvania Common Core go before the state Board of Education for approval.

The senator says the board itself also has too many vacancies to be considered stable.

But the panel’s director says the nature of the staggered terms of members means there’s always a bit of turnover.

The director also points out the drafting of Common Core standards have spanned multiple secretaries and administrations.