Congratulations to Athena’s Vicki Richardson!
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The February Professional Times Newsletter Is Here!
Check it out here.
The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Pearson Tests
Over the course of three consecutive days last week, students in grades 3-8 took Pearson’s New York State (NYS) Common Core English-language arts (ELA) tests. As was the case in 2013, 2014 a…
Source: The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Pearson Tests
Would You Pay $250,000 to Play Ed Reform Poker?
If ever you needed a reminder that the corporate reform movement is led by the super-rich, not by public school parents or teachers, this is it. The rephormer group called “Education Reform N…
Teacher to Chris Christie: Here’s my face. Go ahead and punch it.
From the Washington Post…Teacher to Chris Christie: Here’s my face. Go ahead and punch it.
Good News! Legal Challenge to New York Teacher Evaluations Will Proceed in Court
Bruce Lederman, an attorney acting on behalf of his wife, experienced elementary school teacher Sheri Lederman, filed suit to challenge the state’s teacher evaluation system. The New York State Education Department sought to have the case thrown out. Today, the New York Supreme Court ruled that the lawsuit can go forward. Good for the Ledermans!
From Bruce Lederman:
The NY Supreme Court has denied a motion by the NY Education Department to dismiss the Lederman v. King lawsuit, in which an 18 year veteran Great Neck teacher has challenged a rating of “ineffective” based upon a growth score of 1 out of 20 points, even though her students performed exceptionally well on standardized tests.
This means that the NY Education Department must now answer to a Judge and explain why a rating which is irrational by any reasonable standard should be permitted to remain. The NY Education Department argued that…
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Governor Cuomo Says State Tests Are “Meaningless,” So Why Should Students Do Their Best?
Governor Andrew Cuomo doesn’t understand why students should opt out of state testing, because the tests won’t count against students. Instead, they will be used to rank and evaluate teachers. So, he wonders, why should students opt out?
But the governor is not recognizing the consequences of his statement. As one blogger asked, why should students take the tests if they are meaningless?
That is a good reason to opt out. Why should students waste their time on tests that are meaningless?
But more important, if the students are not motivated to do their best, if they know the tests don’t count, why should teachers be evaluated by their students’ lack of effort? Taking a test is not like stepping on a scale. The scores vary depending on many factors, not least of which is motivation. If students go into the tests knowing they don’t matter, why should they try?
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Eagles for Education
Below is information about the Eagles for Education golf tournament benefiting the GEF. The GEF helps support Greece teachers and our classrooms.
If you have any questions, please use the contact information on the attachment.
Should charter schools be closing for rally?
As a matter of policy, should Success Academy Charter Schools, Inc., as taxpayer-funded public schools, be permitted to close their doors and transport students, parents and staff to Albany for a rally?
Stuff a Bus 2015
2015 Stuff-A-Bus Food Drive Results
Thank you to all who participated with the food drive. We surpassed last year’s total!
(all numbers are in lbs.)
Autumn Lane – 352
Brookside – 79
Buckman Hgts – 125
Craig Hill – 220
English Village – 371
Holmes Rd – 139
Lakeshore – 276
Longridge – 1487
Paddy Hill – 53
Pine Brook – 919
West Ridge – 273
Arcadia MS – 80
Athena MS – 173
Olympia MS – 266
Odyssey MS – 130
Arcadia HS – 1061
Athena HS – 88
Olympia HS – 250
Odyssey HS – 133
Total is 6478
Congratulations to Longridge, Olympia MS, and Arcadia HS!
