PRESS ALERT
Contact 1: Elizabeth Elsass, 917-605-3640, rinelsass1@gmail.com
Contact 2: Dani Liebling, 347-218-3107, daniliebling@yahoo.com
GROUNDSWELL OF BROOKLYN PARENTS FROM BROWNSVILLE TO CARROLL GARDENS REFUSE STATE TESTS
WHAT:
To mark the first day of State-mandated standardized tests, Brooklyn parents from schools with unprecedented rates of test refusal will hold a playground press conference to announce how and why they have embarked on a civil disobedience campaign.
WHEN:
Tuesday, April 1st at 9:15 AM
WHERE:
Dimattina Playground, adjacent to the Brooklyn New School
(between Rapelye and Woodhull Street, Henry and Hicks Street)
WHO:
Parents from a diverse group of Brooklyn public schools including host schools PS 446/Riverdale Ave Community School (Brownsville), Arts & Letters (Fort Greene), and PS 146/Brooklyn New School (Carroll Gardens); elected officials or their representatives. (Confirmed: Brad Lander, Daniel Wiley, Community Coordinator for Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Community Education Council 15 Member. List in formation.)
WHY:
Brooklyn parents organized a grassroots opt-out campaign that yielded a record number of test refusals for this year’s 3rd-8th grade state math and English exams. In a first for the borough, more students at the host schools will sit out the tests than will take them.* The campaign is part of a national movement in which parents are rejecting high-stakes tests as harmful to their children, teachers, and schools and as detrimental to creativity and deep learning.
VISUALS:
Parents holding signs and examples of student work.
*Exact number available at the press conference
Diane Ravitch's blog 
This is great. Freedom for the children — to live free of the madness, freedom to learn!
It was reported that 70% of students at Brooklyn New School have opted out. This is amazing.
This is a WOWZER post. Great that 70% of students at Brookyn New School have opted out. Thanks for this info. PH O’Neill. And ORMAR, agree…freedom for the children — to live free of the madness.