Archives for category: New York
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Andrea Gabor: An Inspection of New York State’s Secret ELA Tests

By dianeravitch
June 15, 2014 //
44

Somehow, Andrea Gabor got a copy of most of the New York State English Language Arts Common Core-Aligned State tests.

 

She describes them here.

 

She writes:

 

Once again I am in possession of a bit of educational contraband.

For the second year in a row, I have received a copy of the New York State English Language Arts tests for grades 6 to 8, which were administered in April. (Though, this year, my set appeared incomplete as it contained only books one and two for each grade–not the three books that were included last year and that I was told were given this year. So my analysis here is confined to only two booklets for each grade.)

Anyone who has followed the controversy around the introduction of the New York State’s “common-core aligned” tests, knows that there has been a growing backlash–and not necessarily against the common core itself. Rather, a great many educators object to the quality and the quantity of tests–in addition to six days of “common core” testing, New York kids are now finishing the Measurements of Student Learning (MOSL) tests, the sole purpose of which is to evaluate teachers, as well as field tests for next year’s “common core” tests. In the fall, students as young as kindergarteners endured base-line testing for the MOSL.

Most importantly, educators are outraged by the secrecy in which the tests are cloaked.

 

Pearson, which has a $32 million contract with New York, will not permit teachers or anyone else to see the exams.

 

They are hidden by a gag order.

 

This is insane.

 

The value of tests is to learn what students do and do not know or understand

 

If the students, parents, and teachers are not allowed to review the tests, then nothing can be learned from them.

 

There is no point in having tests that are hidden from the view of those who most need whatever information they provide.

 

Of course, the gag order also protects Pearson from public scrutiny and possible discovery of poorly written or inaccurate questions, like the Pineapple questions.

 

So who benefits from the gag order? Not the students.

Categories Common Core, New York, Pearson, Students, Testing

Carol Burris: Will Cuomo Have a Primary Challenger Who is Strong on Education Issues?

By dianeravitch
June 12, 2014 //
13

Carol Burris has been one of the leading voices in opposition to corporate education reform in New York state. Whenever anyone tries to imply that opposition to the Common Core comes only from the Tea Party, there is Carol Burris–a progressive high school principal–as a counter-example.

 

Burris has led the principals’ revolt against high-stakes testing and against evaluating educators according to student test scores.

 

In this article, she describes the progressive revulsion to Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is more attuned to the interests of major corporations and big-money donors than to parents and educators.

 

Burris sees Fordham law professor Zephyr Teachout as the progressive who is likeliest to challenge Governor Cuomo in a Democratic primary, running against him on his left flank, where he has big vulnerabilities.

 

Given the upset defeat of Eric Cantor in Virginia, no politician can rest easy as they approach an election. In many states and districts, voters are angry and feel cheated.

 

Cantor was surprised. Let’s see if Cuomo coasts to victory, as he expects, and as Cantor expected.

Categories Accountability, Charter Schools, New York, Privatization, Testing

Meet Zephyr Teachout: Running Against Cuomo?

By dianeravitch
June 9, 2014 //
9

The Working Families Party briefly flirted with the possibility of running an independent slate. Its candidate for governor was going to be Zephyr Teachout, a Fordham Law professor who specializes in investigating public corruption.

However, at the party’s annual convention, WFP endorsed Cuomo after he promised to govern like a Democrat instead of a conservative Republican.

Teachout has not given up. She may challenge Cuomo in the Democratic primary.

Here is her statement on education.

Categories Cuomo, Andrew, New York, Special Education, Testing

Parents and Educators Demand Release of Pearson Tests

By dianeravitch
June 5, 2014 //
26

Take Action and Click Here to Demand the Release of the 3-8 Grade NYS Tests, Only 30 Seconds of Your Time

Dear Allies,

New York parents and teachers are outraged that they are not allowed to see the NYS Standardized 3-8 grades tests.

Before 2011, all tests were posted on the New York State Education Department (NYSED) website. That changed after the State Education Department signed a contract with Pearson in 2011 that doubled annual spending on NY State tests. Now, despite the already substantial increase in spending on testing, Commissioner King and Chancellor Tisch say an additional $8 million is required to restore full transparency. According to the contract, Pearson must produce unique test questions each year. This further raises legitimate questions about the need for additional funds.

Parents and educators are denied access to the information they need to determine what their child got wrong and what is needed to improve learning. Just as important, any flaws in the tests and scoring are not subject to public scrutiny and correction.

Beneath it all remains research that refutes the validity of these tests not just in their accuracy and legitimacy for measuring student growth, but in measuring teacher performance as well. Failing to be fully transparent only escalates those concerns.

As was the case with NYSED’s refusal to act within its own authority to address parent data privacy concerns with inBloom, we call on the legislature to act now!

We are asking all parents, educators and community members to join us in demanding that elected and appointed officials in Albany RELEASE THE TESTS!

Again, Please Take Action and Click Here to Demand the Release of the 3-8 Grade NYS Tests.

Thank you,
NYS Allies for Public Education
http://www.nysape.org

.

__,_._,___

Categories New York, Pearson, Testing

Cuomo Won the WFP Endorsement by Promising to Act Like a Democrat

By dianeravitch
June 2, 2014 //
31

Peter Goodman here tells the sorry story of how Governor Cuomo won the endorsement of the Working Families Party by promising to act like a Democrat. For example, he promised to help Democrats gain control of the State Senate and to let localities raise the minimum wage, which are not big concessions from a Democratic governor.

On education, where Cuomo has governed as a conservative Republican, he promised nothing of substance. Districts are still stuck with a 2% tax cap, which requires a 60% supermajority to overturn; New York City still has the most charter-friendly legislation in the nation; the state will still have highly inequitable funding.

In his first appearance after the WFP victory, at a parade in Manhattan, Cuomo began hedging on the commitments he had made to the WFP.

He said, “Cuomo, who indicated he’d back the party’s goals of helping Democrats take back the State Senate and allowing localities to raise the minimum wage, downplayed the boos and heckling he received in absentia this weekend at the convention of the Working Families Party, whose union and progressive members have long grumbled about Cuomo’s fiscally conservative policies and working relationship with Republicans.

“It’s very simple at these political conventions: you either win or you lose. Uh, and I won, and I’m very happy to have their support,” he said.

In other words, the promises were strategic. He won. That’s all that matters.

To many progressives, Cuomo is Governor 1%. As Peter Goodman suggests, they have a choice: Howie Hawkins and Brian Jones of the Green Party.

Categories Cuomo, Andrew, New York

NYSUT Supports Districts That Opt Out of State Field Tests

By dianeravitch
May 30, 2014 //
15

The New York State United Teachers issued a statement supporting th districts that are opting out of state field tests.

“ALBANY, N.Y. May 30, 2014 – As tens of thousands of students statewide prepare to begin vfield testing” questions for future state exams, New York State United Teachers President Karen E. Magee said today more time should be devoted to teaching – not testing – and called for an end to student participation in field tests.

The State Education Department is administering field tests from June 2-11 to try out prospective standardized test questions developed by the giant testing company, Pearson PLC. These tests do not count for students, teachers or schools and are solely used to “test the test.” Stand-alone field tests in English language arts and math will be administered in most schools to students who took the state’s 2014 Grades 3-8 Common Core ELA and math tests.

“New York’s over-reliance on standardized tests continues to have a negative effect on our students,” Magee said. “Teachers and parents are united in our concern that excessive state standardized testing takes important time away from instruction.”

Magee called on the state to grant the SED’s request for sufficient resources so it can develop a bank with enough age- and grade-appropriate, reliable and valid questions to entirely eliminate the need for field testing.

Magee noted a number of school districts – Comsewogue and Ossining, for example – are reportedly boycotting this year’s field tests.

“NYSUT applauds those school districts that have recently opted out of this year’s field testing. Just as we support parents’ rights to opt their child out of the state tests, we support those districts that are opting out of the field tests,” Magee said. “Why should New York state students be unpaid researchers for Pearson?”

“NYSUT Vice President Catalina Fortino, who oversees the union’s Research and Educational Services Division, added, “These upcoming field tests mean that, once again, too many students in New York state will be spending time on standardized tests that take time away from real learning.”

Categories New York, Testing, Unions

Cuomo Plays Hardball with Working Families Party

By dianeravitch
May 30, 2014 //
28

Governor Cuomo is trying to persuade other statewide candidates to refuse the Working Families Party endorsement if they choose an independent to run against him. His goal is to punish the party if it does not endorse him.

There is a battle going on for the future of the Democratic Party. Will it be a progressive party, or will it vie with Republicans to hold the line on taxes and budgets? Will it fight for public education or for privatization?

Categories Cuomo, Andrew, Democrats, New York

Business Group in NY Pledges $500,000 Campaign for Common Core

By dianeravitch
May 30, 2014 //
72

Who supports the Common Core standards? who opposes them? Are the critics right or left?

A new group in Néw York has been created to spend $500,000 to promote Common Core. This article says the group consists of business organizations but its prominent supporters are the Gates Foundation, the Helmsley Foundation, Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst, and the Gates-funded Educators for Excellence.

Allegedly, business wants “higher standards” because the CCSS will close the skills gap and produce more qualified workers. Is there any evidence for this belief? No. On the first round of Common Core testing, 70% of students in New York failed. The failure rate for minorities, English learners, and students with disabilities was even higher. Among students with disabilities, for example, 95% failed the Common Core tests.

Where is the evidence that Common Core will make all students college-ready? There is none.

Would business groups be equally willing to invest in a campaign for equitable school funding, reduced class sizes, universal pre-school, pre-natal care, after-school programs, school nurses, and a raise in the minimum wage? All of these have a solid research base. They are proven strategies for reform.

Do the business leaders think that CCSS makes those investments unnecessary?

It is certainly appealing to fiscal conservatives to believe that higher standards can somehow magically solve the problems of huge economic and social inequality. CCSS, they imagine, can compensate for the fact that nearly one-quarter of our children live in poverty. Someday, maybe 12 years from now, they think, all children will be college-ready, even if they live in squalor or have no home, even if they attend overcrowded classes with inexperienced teachers. Are they gullible? Or do they believe the public can be easily deceived? Remember when the same groups believed that tougher standards, tests, and accountability would raise up all children and “no child” would be “left behind”? We spent billions on tests and consultants, on closing schools and opening schools, and that didn’t work out.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Categories Common Core, New York

Who Is Zephyr Teachout?

By dianeravitch
May 30, 2014 //
25

The Working Families Party, a small party in Néw York state, will hold its convention Saturday in Albany.

At that time, the party will decide whether to endorse Governor Cuomo for re-election or run its own candidate. Polls show that Cuomo wins easily if he does not face a credible challenger on the left. He has lined up Mayor Bill de Blasio’s support and is wooing labor leaders who are active in the WFP.

Many on the WFP executive committee have expressed interest in the candidacy of Zephyr Teachout, a professor at Fordham Law School with an impressive record as a champion of ethics in government.

There is likely to be a heated floor fight.

Governor Cuomo has been a disaster on education issues. He has cut state aid, and districts are not allowed to raise their own school taxes above Cuomo’s cap of 2% unless they get a supermajority vote of 60%. A vote of 59.9%, and your budget goes down to defeat. He has ably represented the 3% of students enrolled in charter schools, because their allies on Wall Street are major donors to Cuomo’s campaign. He just doesn’t care much for public schools. Large numbers of parents and educators are looking for an alternative to Cuomo, who will speak up for public schools and reduce the state’s obsession with high-stakes testing.

So who is Zephyr Teachout?

Here is a testimonial by a law professor at Duke Law School, where she earned her law degree and graduated summa cum laude.

Here is her official Fordham University bio.

And here is the statement she released today:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MAY 30, 2014

STATEMENT FROM ZEPHYR TEACHOUT ON SEEKING THE WORKING FAMILIES PARTY NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

Contact: Zephyr Teachout, info@zephyrteachout.com

New York, NY — Gubernatorial candidate Zephyr Teachout released this statement Friday on her decision to seek the Working Families Party nomination for Governor of the State of New York:

“I’m seeking the WFP nomination because New Yorkers deserve an economy and democracy that works for all of us, not just the wealthy and well-connected. The system is rigged for the rich and powerful, and as part of that broken system, Andrew Cuomo isn’t going to fix it. People’s voices aren’t being heard,” said Gubernatorial Candidate Zephyr Teachout. “Cuomo not only failed to do anything real to prevent wealthy and corporate donors from buying our politicians, but proposed severe cuts in education funding while giving massive tax breaks to bankers and billionaires. I am strong supporter of public education, a democracy responsive to our voices, and an economy grounded in good jobs and many small businesses, not a few powerful corporations.”

###

Categories Cuomo, Andrew, New York

Parents in New York: Say NO to Field Tests!

By dianeravitch
May 30, 2014 //
13

Parents, there is one sure way to stop the testing mania that is devouring your child’s education: Say NO to the next round of field tests, scheduled for June 2 to June 11. Don’t let Pearson and the State Education Department steal more time from your child that should be spent learning, playing, dancing, singing, and studying.

Want to learn more about the campaign to Change the Stakes? Open this link to go to the webpage of Change the Stakes. You will find practical information about how to opt out of the field testing.

Categories New York, Parents, Pearson, Resistance, Standardized Testing
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