News

Improvements in students’ test scores are the single best measure to determine a teacher’s long-term success, a study released last week by the UK-based Sutton Trust found.

The study, “Testing Teachers: What works best for teacher evaluation and appraisal” by the London School of Economics’ Richard Murphy, examined three methods of teacher evaluation – student test scores, classroom observations and student survey – and found, based on a comprehensive review of existing studies in the U.S. and elsewhere, that test scores were the most effective measure in evaluating a teacher.

The decision to allow the UFT Charter School to remain open for another two years is yet another example of politics coming before the interests of our kids. We must never accept failure in our schools. When that failure is as consistent and persistent as has been the case since the union opened its charter school in 2005, then we must be willing to stand up to powerful interests and say enough is enough. This should be true for all public schools, regardless of whether they are a charter school or a district school. Undoubtedly, the union would be making the same argument about a charter school with the same record of poor performance and mismanagement were it not their own. And one can't help but wonder whether this decision was made fully on the merits.

Last night, StudentsFirstNY hosted a conversation with parent leaders from our Brooklyn and Queens community chapters. The conversation focused on the need for parent leaders to work together and advocate for education reform in their local school districts. Many parents traveled with their children from as far as Canarsie and Jamaica to learn more about the efforts taking place across New York City.

In its second report on New York City charter schools released last week, Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) highlights some promising results, along with some areas for improvement. The report found that the typical student in a New York City charter school gained about five more months of learning in math and one more month of learning in reading when compared to their district school peers. 

Governor Cuomo said he would be the students’ lobbyist and today he is. Nothing that goes on inside our schools is more important to our children’s futures than the quality of their teachers. And a meaningful evaluation system is the critical first step to improving teacher quality.

Yesterday, the Equity and Excellence Commission – an advisory committee chartered by Congress – issued a series of recommendations to Education Secretary Arne Duncan. The memo outlined federal policies that could help close the achievement gap and ensure all students across the country had an equal and fair shot at a quality education.

In the first State of the Union address of his second term, President Obama proposed education initiatives that have enormous potential for children across America: universal pre-school and college and career readiness programs for high school students, so our graduates leave school with the skills needed to enter the workforce.

This morning, New Yorkers lost a hero, Mayor Edward I. Koch, who served on StudentsFirstNY’s Board of Directors.  Mayor Koch embodied the spirit of New York City: ebullient, determined, brilliant, tough, full of life and humor.  As Mayor and ever since, he was a champion for public education and for the City’s children. In so many ways, Mayor Koch changed and saved New York.  May his memory be a blessing.

Today marks the tenth and final day of StudentsFirstNY's effort to stress the urgency of a deal on a new evaluation system for NYC public school teachers.

Leaders from the teachers' union and the City have until January 17th to reach an agreement on a new teacher evaluation system or else NYC schools will lose $300 million.

With one day left before the deadline and still no deal, StudentsFirstNY ran the newspaper ad below in New York papers urging leaders to come to an agreement for our teachers and our students.