News

Rally at City Hall in Support of Opting In To State Assessments

HIGH ACHIEVEMENT NEW YORK & STUDENTSFIRSTNY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 23, 2017
CONTACT: JOHN COLLINS, 212 681 1380
MICHAEL NITZKY, 212 257 4349
RADIO TESTIMONIAL: https://youtu.be/K__UujLh88w 

(NEW YORK) – More than 100 parents from across New York City came together today to support a city and statewide campaign encouraging parents to have their children take state assessments, which begin next week.

New York City opt-in rates continue to lead the state with over 98 percent participation. At the same time, statewide opt-out rates have flat-lined over the past two years.  This is in part in response to steps the New York State Department of Education and its Board of Regents have taken to improve the quality of the tests themselves as well as quality and timeliness of the information teachers, parents and students receive about student results. Taken together this has helped underscore the value of these critical assessments. 

Today's rally is part of a statewide “Say Yes to the Test” effort that includes similar events in Buffalo, Rochester and Albany, a testimonial campaign from parents and leaders airing on Pandora and social media, and ongoing communication efforts.

"While students should be praised for higher graduation rates, today's release still highlights serious problems that cannot be ignored. 

StudentsFirstNY is a grassroots education advocacy organization dedicated to improving public schools throughout New York State.

In Mayor de Blasio's state budget testimony today, he spoke against raising the regional cap on NYC charters and against fairly funding charters. Mayor de Blasio can't talk about fairly funding some schools and not all schools. The following quote can be attributed to StudentsFirstNY Executive Director Jenny Sedlis:

"Parents are tired of Mayor de Blasio's political opposition to charter schools. It's not good for kids and it's not helping solve the city's education crisis." 

"We're not seeing anything new in Mayor de Blasio's budget that will make a difference to children and families trapped in failing schools. His Renewal Schools program was an expensive flop and he has no new programs to improve teaching and learning, increase school choice, enhance college readiness or address the middle school crisis. If education were a priority for the Mayor, he'd do more than just pay lip service to the issues," said StudentsFirstNY Executive Director Jenny Sedlis.

“Governor Cuomo’s executive budget reaffirms his long held support for public schools and his belief in the critical role charter schools play in improving educational opportunities for the highest need students. The Governor is helping to create the conditions for further growth of high quality charter schools and is giving hope to thousands more children. We commend the Governor and strongly encourage the Senate and Assembly to work together to pass these critical proposals," said StudentsFirstNY Executive Director Jenny Sedlis.

73,000 Students Live in Districts Without a Single Quality Middle School

New York, NY – New analysis by StudentsFirstNY has revealed eight community school districts where zero traditional middle schools meet basic standards. This means that nearly 73,000 NYC families don’t have a quality middle school option. That’s why more than two hundred public school parents took to the steps of City Hall to demand immediate and bold action by Mayor de Blasio to end “Middle School Deserts” in New York City. 

Read the new report.

Statement from StudentsFirstNY's Executive Director Jenny Sedlis:

"Here's City Hall selling favors again -- apparently $350,000 buys you sweetheart deals in the de Blasio administration. Mayor de Blasio's scheme to rate every teacher effective may seal the union's endorsement but it won't help the kids who need better schools now. Mayor de Blasio should be fighting for kids, not the special interests who write him big checks."

CONTACT:
Michael Nitzky
646-565-8184

"New Yorkers defied expectations by rejecting a State Senate that would have turned its back on the needs of all public school students across the state. With the help of New Yorkers for a Balanced Albany, families who believe that every child deserves a great education regardless of their zip code stood up to the special interests to protect our most vulnerable children. We congratulate Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan for his impressive stewardship. We also had tremendous partners in the Real Estate Board of New York."