Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued another sharp critique of New York’s implementation of new learning standards on Thursday, saying he understood the concerns of parents who opted their children out of taking state tests and would convene another group to examine the Common Core.

In a lengthy statement, Cuomo said he will task a team of advisors to review policies tied to the Common Core standards and make recommendations by January — in time for him to direct another round of legislative changes to state education policy. The announcement comes as political pressure has mounted on state officials to address its opt-out movement, which grew to one in five eligible students this year.

“The fact is that the current Common Core program in New York is not working, and must be fixed,” Cuomo said. “To that end, the time has come for a comprehensive review of the implementation of the Common Core Standards, curriculum, guidance and tests in order to address local concerns.”

It’s unclear how this review of the Common Core will differ from the one Cuomo convened in 2014, or a separate review being directed by new State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia. Spokeswoman Melissa DeRosa said the goal will be to “pass a new law that revamps the system” with input from school administrators, teachers, parents, legislators, and the State Education Commissioner.

Cuomo said he was responding to growing rancor from parents who oppose the state’s testing policies. After adopting the standards in 2010, New York rushed ahead of many states in tying its standardized math and English exams to the standards in 2013 and simultaneously introducing a new teacher-evaluation system that used student test results. Critics have said the state moved too quickly, providing too little training for teachers, botching textbook deliveries to schools, and not communicating clearly enough with families.

Cuomo — who was governor during that transition — criticized the State Education Department but steered clear of pointing a finger at Elia, saying she has “inherited this problem” and acknowledging her efforts to meet with state testing opponents.

But Cuomo implied that comments Elia has made since taking over the department, including saying teachers who encouraged the opt-out movement were “unethical,” have done little to reduce frustration.

“We must have standards for New York’s students, but those standards will only work if people – especially parents – have faith in them and in their ability to educate our children,” Cuomo said. “The current Common Core program does not do that. It must.”

In response, Elia said she was moving forward with her own review because “it’s the right thing to do for our students” and that she looked forward to input from the governor’s commission.

The statement created a rare moment of unity between the governor and the city teachers union. “We’ll be happy to work with the new group to help fix the problems created by the Common Core rollout and to help restore the public’s faith in state education policy,” United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew said in a statement.

Cuomo has often convened education commissions and panels to exert influence over the State Education Department, which is overseen by the 17-member Board of Regents, not his office. In 2012, the governor tapped an “education reform commission” whose recommendations spurred a series of competitive grants for districts.

Cuomo tapped a “Common Core panel” in the winter of 2014, as calls mounted for the state to pause tying state test results to consequences for students and teachers. The panel included Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, IBM executive and former deputy city schools chancellor Stan Litow, and some teachers, including New York City teacher Nick Lawrence. A few months later they released a report that called for an end to a student data warehousing initiative and less test preparation, but did not call for changes to teacher evaluations.

Here is the governor’s full statement:

“There has been an ongoing discussion about Common Core Standards nationwide, and in this state as well. I have said repeatedly my position is that while I agree with the goal of Common Core Standards, I believe the implementation by the State Education Department (SED) has been deeply flawed. The more time goes on, the more I am convinced of this position.

“A growing chorus of experts have questioned the intelligence of SED’s Common Core program and objective educators across the state have found the implementation problematic, to say the least. The new Commissioner of Education has inherited this problem and I understand has been meeting with parents, educators and students, and has heard the same concerns. Recently, SED has made comments about organized efforts to have parents choose to opt out of standardized tests. While I understand the issue and SED’s valid concern, I sympathize with the frustration of the parents.

“We must have standards for New York’s students, but those standards will only work if people – especially parents – have faith in them and in their ability to educate our children. The current Common Core program does not do that. It must.

“The fact is that the current Common Core program in New York is not working, and must be fixed. To that end, the time has come for a comprehensive review of the implementation of the Common Core Standards, curriculum, guidance and tests in order to address local concerns. I am taking this action not because I don’t believe in standards, but because I do.

“In the past, I employed an Education Commission to make substantive, unbiased recommendations on reforms to our education system. It has worked very well. I will ask a representative group from that Commission, including education experts, teachers, parents, the Commissioner of Education and legislative representatives to review the issues raised above and provide recommendations in time for my State of the State Address in January.”