New York, NY – As final negotiations wrap up on the state budget, public school parent activists and students today rallied outside Tweed Courthouse to urge legislators to pass the meaningful education reforms outlined in Governor Cuomo’s education Opportunity Agenda. Parents and students across New York, including grassroots activists organized by education reform advocacy organization StudentsFirstNY and Derrell Bradford, executive director of NYCAN, view Governor Cuomo’s reforms as critical to improving public school options.

New York, NY – StudentsFirstNY today released a web video in support of Governor Cuomo’s education Opportunity Agenda. The video is a part of the group’s grassroots and digital #ForOpportunity campaign to bring together parents advocating for fundamental reform to fix New York’s broken education system. 

The video features State Assemblyman Karim Camara, New York City Councilman Robert Cornegy, StudentsFirstNY parent advocates, and NYCAN Executive Director Derrell Bradford who spoke at a rally of 400 district public school parents in support of the Governor last week.

The video can viewed here:

StudentsFirstNY parent advocate Au Hogan said: “I support the Governor’s plan because he understands the same old status quo is failing too may kids. Our kids deserve a better chance.”

StudentsFirstNY parent advocate Anyta Brown said: “We must let Albany know that we are to be heard and we are a force to be reckoned with. So therefore, I say, what do we want? We want opportunity, and we want it now!”

"There's a reason why the teachers' union has spent $60 million in Albany over the past five years: to get politicians like Andrea Stewart-Cousins to put their interests over the hundreds of thousands of kids victimized by a failing system. In Yonkers, 4 out of 5 students cannot read or do math on grade level -- they need a Senator, too. Governor Cuomo's plan will give our best teachers $20,000 bonuses, will cover tuition to get the best and brightest into our classrooms, and will increase funding for all children. Governor Cuomo is fighting for kids; Senator Stewart-Cousins should too."

-- Tenicka Boyd, public school parent and StudentsFirstNY Director of Organizing

In an interview for “The Capital Pressroom,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo praises the charter school movement.

New York City parents and students are marching to Albany to save the future of charter schools. After receiving minimal support from Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña, charter school families are seeking help from Governor Andrew Cuomo and the capital.

Today, StudentsFirstNY Acting Executive Director Glen Weiner released the following statement:

"Governor Cuomo and State Education Commissioner John King deserve high marks for standing up for our kids and successfully pressuring Buffalo School Superintendent Dr. Pamela Brown to void a highly questionable, secret side deal with the teachers’ union that threatened to significantly undermine their teacher evaluation system before it was even implemented.

"As New York City finalizes its own evaluation agreement, we implore our leaders to be just as vigilant and ensure that it too will be held to the highest standards so as to give our students the best chance at a quality education."

In a joint letter, education reform groups thanked Governor Cuomo, Senate Leaders Skelos and Klein, and Assembly Speaker Silver for the substantial improvements you made to New York State’s teacher evaluation law as part of this year’s budget. Download the full letter (PDF) below.

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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.

Education reform coalition urges New York State to implement its Race to the Top pledges on teacher quality and effectiveness.

While studies have consistently shown that teacher quality is the greatest influencer of a child’s academic success, few systems exist in New York State to influence teacher quality. As a result, it’s difficult to identify, encourage, promote and retain top educators. Teachers are left without constructive feedback regarding their performance, and administrators lack effective measurements for highlighting and rewarding excellence.