Celebrating UNITY!

The survey results are in and based on your input we have made modifications to the EWTA Scholarship Foundation Dinner Dance.  

This year’s celebration will be at Harbor Links Golf Course on Tuesday, June 24th.

This year, the program will be different:
 
Open bar, Extended Cocktail Hour, Buffet Dinner & Dancing

Join us to celebrate the end of the school year where we support the David K. Israel Scholarship and have a toast to our retirees!
  
We are looking forward to sharing an evening of celebration, unity and fun.

EW parents speak out against the State tests.  The following is in the Williston Times. 

http://www.theislandnow.com/great_neck/opinions/reader-s-write-state-tests-unfair-to-kids-teachers/article_c5bfc886-b5bd-11e3-8109-001a4bcf887a.html

State tests unfair to kids, teachers 
Posted: Thursday, March 27, 2014 10:40 am

Next week, the third and eighth graders throughout New York State will begin taking the New York State Assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics.  

Here are some facts about the New York State standardized tests:

• Since 2010, the amount of time spent on average testing has increased 128 percent, for third graders it has increased 163 percent.

• The tests are too long for students. Third and fourth graders are allotted 70 minutes for each of the six days (seven total hours of testing). Fifth through eighth graders are allotted 90 minutes for each of the six days (nine hours).  (A third grader is eight or nine years old.)

 To put some perspective on the time being spent - the MCAT exam to get into medical school is a four and half-hour test. (Taken by an adult 21 and 22 years of age and older.)

• Students with disabilities that receive extended time may be tested 10 and half to 14 hours in grades three and four and 13 and half to 18 hours in grades five through eight. 

• The questions are ambiguous. As quoted from the www.engageny.org website, third grade ELA manual:  “Answer choices will not jump out; rather, students will need to make hard choices between “fully correct” and  “plausible but incorrect” answers”.

• The tests are costing the school districts tens of thousands of dollars and taxpayers millions of dollars while big corporations (like Pearson) are creating test prep materials and exams are making billions of dollars (from our tax dollars).

• The pressure for student achievement is causing more teachers to teach to the test.

• Testing in this manner at such a young age does not lead to better test takers but instead careless test takers.  Children have reported randomly filling out Scantron sheets.

• Teachers, parents and administrators don’t see the tests after they have been graded and therefore the tests cannot be used as a learning tool to guide instruction (this is the sole purpose for testing).  

• The results and scores are vague and don’t give clear explanation of the child’s actual performance.

• Your child’s test results in no way affects a child’s right to Academic Intervention Services (AIS).

• Teachers are pulled out of classes to grade exams, so there is more time away from their students.

Our public school system is slowly being eroded.  Public schools are the foundations of our democracy and the very core of most communities.  Elementary school is a time for children to explore, question, wonder, discover, to develop a thirst for knowledge, to help them become enthusiastic and passionate lifelong learners.  

Test prep and testing in this manner are taking time away from the meaningful and wonderful experiences that children can be having in school.  In addition, it places unnecessary stress on the children with no educational benefit. 

Parents you have a choice, a right and an obligation to guide your child’s education and to protect them.  You can refuse the test.  A parent has the right to refuse the tests for their child, according to the SIRS (Student Information Repository System) manual, on page 63 and the tests will be graded as such. 

If you choose to refuse the test and want more information and guidance you can find it at www.nysape.org or you can email [email protected]

In the words of John Dewey, “What the best and wisest parent wants for his child, that must we want for all the children of the community. Anything less is unlovely, and left unchecked, destroys our democracy.”

Christine Cozzolino, East Williston 
Parent of K, third and sixth grader
Former Math 7-12 educator
Current College Math Professor

Sarah Mizrahi,  Albertson 
Parent of K, fifth and sixth grader
Former Guidance Counselor

Christine Conte, East Williston 
Parent of sixth and ninth grader
Occupational Therapist

Though it is not as strong as the resolution proposed by the Coalition for Students Advocacy, East Williston BOE stepped up to the plate.

East Williston School District Board of Education Resolution 
on High Stakes Testing approved by the BOE 3/24/14

Whereas the East Williston School is committed to providing a 
quality public education dedicated to preparing students to 
be creative and critical thinkers who are ready for college and careers; and

Whereas the East Williston School District promotes student 
experiences that are rich in content and helps students to become confident, passionate, lifelong 
learners and engaged citizens; and

Whereas the East Williston School District believes our mission
 is not only to prepare students for college, but to help students develop the skills necessary to meet success in the changing world. We believe that our broad course of study enables students to leave East Williston with the knowledge and skills necessary for that success . District staff is dedicated to 
helping students to achieve this goal; and
 
Whereas the East Williston School District believes that districts 
must commit time, instructional knowledge, faculty talent and material costs toward educational goals of every student. 
Testing results should be utilized to inform instruction, improve programs and diagnose needs.

Resolved, that the East Williston School District requests the 
State Education Department reevaluate the implementation 
of the Regents Reform Agenda to reduce the amount of time dedicated to 
testing in
order to provide accountability without eroding the rich,
meaningful education our students have historically received in this community.


Resolved, that the East Williston School District requests 
that Governor Cuomo, Commissioner King, Chancellor Tisch, The New York State Board of Regents, Senator Flanagan, Senator Martins, Chair of the Assembly Committee of Education Nolan, Assemblywoman Schimmel, Assemblyman Ra, Assemblyman Montesano and other policy makers to all work together to improve the 
current system of student assessment and ensure the confidentiality of student data.  
Furthermore, we request that the Commissioner involve all stakeholders in the development of a revised, research based, 
age appropriate assessment program with a well thought out timeline;and

Resolved, that the East Williston School District calls on the 
U.S. Congress to overhaul the 
Elementary and Secondary Educational Act (currently known as the "No Child Left Behind Act"), reduce the testing mandates, promote multiple forms of evidence of student learning and school quality in accountability.

The strength of the EWTA comes from its membership.  Last week, many of you demonstrated the strength of our unity.  Your attendance, at the PTO District-wide Grant Dinner, the Wheatley Scholarship fundraiser and the rally outside of Senator Martins’ office in support of our schools, is the core of our union. 
As public education and unions remain under fierce attack by reformers and big business, the connections we make in our community, the support we provide our students and the collective voice we bring to the public is more important than ever. 
Thanks to you all! (I hope I included everyone who participated.  Regrets, if I inadvertently left your name off of the list.)

There is a vast amount of information available to help parents understand the laws and the consequences of having their child refuse to take the state tests.  The New York State Allies for Public Education website is a great resource. http://www.nysape.org/refusing-the-test-resources.html