Political Action

NYSUT Statement on Teacher Evaluation Legislation

by

Source: NYSUT Media Relations
ALBANY, N.Y. April 26, 2018 — New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta issued the following statement on legislation introduced today that would fix New York’s broken teacher evaluation system:

“Fixing New York’s broken teacher evaluation system is long overdue. Parents and teachers are rightly angry and frustrated. The misuse of standardized tests and the state’s over-reliance on testing continue to plague the learning climate in our classrooms. There are far better ways to evaluate educators than to use mystery math and algorithms that spit out invalid ‘growth scores’ while subjecting kids to exhausting fill-in-the-bubble tests that aren’t particularly useful or accurate.

“This new legislation would prohibit the mandated use of state tests — including Regents exams and grades 3-8 ELA and math tests — in individual teacher evaluations. School districts and their teacher unions would be able to design their own effective and fair evaluation systems that help teachers to grow professionally while meeting the unique needs of their own communities. Local control is the best way to restore the trust and confidence of parents and teachers and help restore respect for the teaching profession.

“We thank Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Education Chairwoman Cathy Nolan for listening to parents and educators and introducing a bill that would ensure that students and teachers are once again valued as more than a test score. We look forward to working with Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Senate to reduce the testing burden and enact this fairer evaluation system before the end of the legislative session.”

Absentee Ballot and Voter Registration Info – Nov. 7, 2017 – Vote NO Constitutional Convention

by

Absentee Ballot and Voter Registration Info – Nov. 7, 2017 – Vote NO Constitutional Convention

If you or any of your family members will  be out of your county on Nov. 7, 2017 they are eligible to get an absentee ballot.  This is great for a handicapped member of the family, a college student or a business traveler.   It is a very simple process to download, print and mail the absentee form.

http://www.suffolkvotes.com/absenteevoting.asp

Download an absentee ballot application here. Any Registered Voter wishing to vote by Absentee Ballot must complete both sides of the Absentee Ballot Application

Must be postmarked by 10/31/17

or hand delivered by the day prior to the election

Register to vote here:

http://www.suffolkvotes.com/register.asp

Suffolk County, New York (NY) Board of Elections. Register to vote, check your voter registration, find your polling place, request an absentee ballot and see …

National Day of Action – Anti Devos Letter Published by LI Advance

by

The letter below by PMCT President, Beth Warnken, was published in the Long Island Advance on Thursday January 12th.

 

Long Island Advance

20 Medford Avenue

Patchogue, NY 11772

ATT: Editor

Letter to the Editor

The Patchogue-Medford Congress of Teachers is joining with the Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools on January 19th for a National Day of Action – #PMCT4PublicEd #ReclaimOurSchools.

Our purpose is to share our concerns about the nominee for US Secretary of Education,

Ms. Betsy DeVos.  Ms. DeVos is a billionaire activist from Michigan.  She has a degree in Business Administration and Political Science.  Ms. DeVos has no educational experience.  She has not ever attended public schools herself nor have any of her four children.  Never having worked in a school – public or private, we believe, should disqualify her from serving in this role. It seems obvious to us that the US Secretary of Education should hold some minimal credentials: a degree in teaching, have served as an educator and have a connection to a public school system – where 85% of the children in this nation are educated.

We are concerned that Ms. DeVos will support policies intended to privatize, defund and destabilize public education in America.  We are troubled at the prospect of what that would mean for us here in Patchogue-Medford.

We, the teachers in Patchogue-Medford, stand united in support of our schools.  We believe in public education and the right EVERY child has to a free and appropriate education.  We are concerned how national policies may adversely affect our public schools and the quality education our students receive in Patchogue-Medford.

We are against the nomination of Betsy DeVos for US Secretary of Education.  We, on this National Day of Action, encourage you to do as we have done, contact your US Senators Chuck Schumer (ph#518-431-4070 or go to www.schumer.senate.gov) and Kirsten Gillibrand (ph#631-249-2825 or go to www.gillibrand.senate.gov) and tell them to Vote NO!  Betsy DeVos should not be confirmed Secretary of Education.

Sincerely,

Beth A. Warnken, President

Patchogue-Medford Congress of Teachers

 

 

Judge Calls Evaluation of N.Y. Teacher ‘ARBITRARY’ and ‘CAPRICIOUS’ in Case Against John King

by
 
Read some of the press on the huge win by Sheri Lederman!!

Patchogue’s Four Corners Turned RED FOR ED – Thurs. Sept. 17, 2015

by

A large group of parents, teachers, administrators and local Assemblyman, Dean Murray, held a rally to protest the Common Core curriculum and the high stakes teacher evaluations imposed on public schools by Governor Cuomo in the last legislative session. These rallies were held simultaneously in 17 communities across Long Island on Thursday September 17, 2015. Rallies and forums like this will continue as the parents in New York State love their schools and will fight for local control of their children’s education.