SAVE THE DATES! On May 21-22 New York Democrats will hold their state convention on Long Island.  The convention will  be held at the Hilton Long Island/Huntington hotel in Melville.  Join us as we  greet the Governor and share with him how we feel about his plans for public education.

On Monday, April 28th 500+ union members, including our own John Coyne, Jen Fatone and Henry Kupstas protested outside Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook where Governor Andrew Cuomo spoke at the Suffolk Democratic dinner.  The protesters called the Governor to task regarding the Tax Cap, APPR and Standardized testing.  The loud boisterous crowd carrying signs and bullhorns let the Governor know how angry we are with his education policies.

Then on May 4th NYSUT organized “Picket in the Pines” where the group DFER (Democrats for Education Reform) were hosting their Philosopher’s Camp on Education Reform.   Andrew Cuomo was to be speaking at the event but instead of attending, at the last minute he spoke by video.  It should be noted that DFER attendees are neither true Democrats nor educators.  They are hedge fund managers and millionaires who are working to privatize education.  In fact, public educators who attempted to register for the conference were turned away.  Click here for more information about DFER.

This weekend was the NYSUT 42nd Annual Representative Assembly where delegates from across New York State gather to conduct the business of the union and to set NYSUT’s agenda.  This year was particularly well attended because an election was held. 
A new leadership team was overwhelmingly elected to move our agenda forward.  The team ran under the name REVIVE NYSUT.  
Karen Magee - President, Catalina R. Fortino - 1st Vice President, Paul Pecorale - 2nd Vice President, Andrew Pallotta - Executive Vice President, Martin Messner - Secretary-Treasurer.  
It is also important to know that delegates overwhelmingly passed Three Resolutions:

1.   "No confidence" in the policies of State Education Commissioner John King Jr. and called for his immediate removal by the Board of Regents

2.  Formally withdrew the union's support for the Common Core standards as interpreted and implemented in New York State

3.  Supported the rights of parents and guardians to opt their children out of high-stakes tests

We have much work ahead of us.  Together we can!

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

Published in the Williston Times.
http://www.theislandnow.com/roslyn/news/ewsd-parents-push-board-on-tests-data/article_d31bfd6a-94e3-11e3-818a-0019bb2963f4.html

1.  At the BOE meeting last night a group of parents, who have organized and created the Coalition for Student Advocacy,  presented a proposed resolution to the Board , requesting that they pass their resolution denouncing high stakes testing, their link to teacher evaluations and opposing InBloom.    
The Board accepted the resolution, thanked the parents and indicated that they will take action at the next BOE meeting after they receive advice from their attorney.  Stay tuned.....
 
2.  The Board of Regents met yesterday and are poised to vote on some course corrections with the rollout of common core, state tests and APPR.  You can read the press release and the proposed changes here.  http://www.oms.nysed.gov/press/regents-adjust-common-core-implementation.html
 
3.  The Governor does not agree with the Regents.  You can read his brief comments here.  http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/02102014-governor-cuomo-statement
 
4.  Finally, NYSUT has weighed in.  I copied the press release below.

New York State United Teachers said a Regents’ task force that worked to fix the failed implementation of the Common Core acknowledged problems, but only skimmed the surface of the significant course corrections parents and educators have been seeking.
“Instead of listening to parents and educators who are grappling with the fallout from the State Education Department’s disastrous implementation, the task force dismissed their concerns with a report that, in the end, adds up to a ‘we know best’ collection of minor adjustments,” said NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi, who noted — contrary to a comment by the governor — that the Regents did not pause or delay anything that is not already in law.
NYSUT acknowledged “as a start” Regents’ support for banning standardized tests for the state’s youngest students and delaying Common Core graduation requirements — two steps strongly pushed by NYSUT. But Iannuzzi blasted the Regents for not concretely addressing New York’s participation in the controversial InBloom project; not taking meaningful steps to correct major problems with Common Core modules; and not embracing the Legislature’s call for a moratorium on the high-stakes consequences for students and teachers from state tests.
“After months of outrage from parents and teachers and clear guidance from the Legislature, the Regents today acknowledged significant problems but stubbornly rejected detaching, for at least two years, high-stakes consequences for students and teachers until they can make the course corrections they now agree are necessary. On teacher evaluations, what the Regents put on the table — allowing teachers to point out failures in their district’s implementation of the Common Core — is nothing new. It is a provision that already exists in state law and which we planned on pursuing with or without ‘permission’ from the State Education Department,” Iannuzzi said.
NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira noted some of the Regents’ recommendations require federal waivers while others only suggest new “guidance” to school districts. Neira said the union would study the task force’s report and seek more detail, but she criticized the State Education Department’s lack of public input.
“The task force worked in secret, and the Regents accepted its report with no public input,” Neira said. “This lack of transparency and lack of responsiveness to the deeply held concerns of parents, teachers and others in public education is, frankly, indicative of a body that seems to care more about the corporations influencing public education than what parents and practitioners know will work.”
 
As things unfold, I will keep you apprised. 

The one thing that seems certain to me is that this political circus need to come to an end.  We ALL must vote this November!   Truth-be-told, only 40% of NYSUT members voted in the last national election.  That percentage drops precipitously during the mid-term.  Think about it….. If every NYSUT member voted…. GAME OVER!