David Gamberg, superintendent of schools in Greenport and Southold, two neighboring towns on the North Fork of Long Island in Néw York, sent a letter home to parents, outlining the procedure they should follow if they don’t want their child to take the Common Core tests.
He assured parents that students will not be compelled to “sit and stare,” a punitive approach in some districts.
An enlightened educator, Gamberg is a strong supporter of the arts in schools. The elementary school in Southold has its own orchestra and a vegetable garden where children raise food for the cafeteria.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I wish all superintendents would issue such guidance to parents. Where I work there seems to be a blackout on any such discussion:
Sign the petition to get the Justice Dept. to investigate Pearson’s violation of privacy laws.http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/department-of-justice-14.fb49?source=s.icn.fb&r_by=3554213
Send Supt. Gamberg to Principals with Principles: https://www.facebook.com/groups/706746166005633/
Reblogged this on Kmareka.com and commented:
Wow.
I think that the Walton and Gates Foundation in addition the 9 Hedge Fund billionaires will be pumping money into school board elections for any district where a Supt. shows they are not a fan of the rank and yank testing agenda. The bigger the district, the more money to elect puppets that will do their bidding.
Terrific leadership by Dr. Gamberg! Today, my own Comsewogue Schools District (also on LI) Board of Education announced we will be discussing a resolution to consider NOT giving the NYS exams this year. You can read the entire resolution here: https://standupandrefuse.wordpress.com/
As a Comsewogue BOE Trustee I believe we have an obligation to stand up to Governor Cuomo and his pro-privatizing hedge fund friends. I look forward to our discussion Thursday night and hope we will pave the way for other Boards!