Wear green laces knowing that children will be happier and their education will be stronger because of your commitment to their future.

Tags

common core, education, parents, testing

One year ago, a symbol to protect kids from high stakes testing was conceived. It was a few pairs of green laces that measured less than the length of a classroom. The symbol spread in that year through compassion and humor and beautiful truths emerged. Strangers became friends. Moms became heroes. A superintendent became a legend. Politicians became allies. Kings became fools. Isolated refusals became school-wide norms. Sit and stare became stand and refuse. Whispers became roars.
Lace to the Top was conceived one year ago as a symbol to unite good people to protect their kids against bad tests. A group of 2 has become 13,000. Less than the length of a classroom has become more than 18 miles of bold and impossible to ignore green laces. The tests are still here but there are more people united against them than were anticipated and the numbers are growing rapidly.
Education, children, teachers, and parents can be ready for college and careers without testing. It is testing that cannot exist without us. Wear green laces and be a part of the return of school to the people in the school house.

As one

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March Through March

Tags

education, parents, teachers, testing

The march through March is filled with great opportunities that matter. There are events at Comsewogue High School on March 5, 22, and 29. There is a panel discussion at the Tilles Center on the 10th. Diane Ravitch will be at Stony Brook University with Carol Burris, Pasi Sahlberg, Michael Fullan, and Andrew Hargreave on March 13th and at Teachers College on the 22 with Lucy Calkins. 

These events matter because they are each opportunuties to bring our collective voices together to protect kids and let other parents know that their struggles with homework, test prep, and testing at their dinner tables is something we can end if we fight it together. 

But the march through March means more than just wonderful speeches, discussions, and debates among those involved with the fight. It means talking every day wherever we are to pass along what has been the focus here since the first post; Our kids are not test scores. The tests are abusive. The publicized “stops” were not enough. The reported “fixes” did not stop a generation of NY children from being tested and data-mined this coming April… yet.

Get ready to march through March because we love our kids, trust our teachers, and believe in our public schools.

Grab green laces & join LTTT

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on Twitter: @lacetothetop.com

 

 

Lace to the Top For Calls A Boycott of the NYS PTA

Tags

parents, pta, teachers, testing

NYS PTA no longer represents the parents, teachers, or students of NY State.

 After the results of the NYS PTA survey and conclusion, we are left with no choice but to take a stand.

 

 In the January 2014 NYS PTA Common Core Parent Survey Report:

60% felt the amount of student testing & test related preparation should be given the greatest attention in NYS PTA’s advocacy efforts. 

 66% oppose Common Core‐based instruction.

92% report student test‐related stress in the past year.

 1% believe the most productive method of evaluating each educator’s performance should be performance on state tests.

 

20,000 people took part in the survey, yet NYS PTA continues to ignore their members and speaks with that infamous “one voice”:

 “In this global economy, it is more important than ever for our schools to graduate students who are ready for the world of work and/or college. They need to be creative and deep thinkers, demonstrate excellent literary skills and be math and science literate no matter which endeavor they chose. This is the path forward in the twenty‐first century; the path that will insure that the United States remains at the fore in innovation and educational excellence. For this reason, despite some issues with implementation, NYS PTA strongly supports the CCLS.”

 Complete results of the survey can be found here

http://nyspta.org/pdf/Advocacy/Report_CCLS_Survey_Jan_2014.pdf

 

 The disconnect between the NYS PTA conclusion and the data collected reflects the disconnect between NYS PTA and the local leadership. 

 

Please send notice to your local PTA leaders that while we want to FULLY SUPPORT their leadership, we cannot sit back and allow NYS PTA to be the “voice” of our children.  Our local PTA leaders need to take a stand!

 Here is a letter informing your local leader of your participation in the boycott: 

http://nebula.wsimg.com/95dd6204c8562758263f760b64c80a5e?AccessKeyId=03FBDADF90E8EBFE9C94&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

 

There is another option, already embraced by many schools, that leaves more money for the children and leaves the decision making in the hands of the local parents and teachers. 

PTOs are a viable option for any PTA looking for change.

 In 2013, the revenue of the NYS PTA was $ 853,177.  They only spent $32,580 on advocacy.  The bulk of their revenue $730,344,went to leadership, structure, & PTA office.    

 Please consider moving your school to a PTO.  More information on the transition can be found here:

http://www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/article/292-pto-vs-pta-whats-the-difference

 

The NYS PTA chose to ignore their own research, which clearly established opposition to high-stakes testing and the implementation of Common Core.  When an association no longer acts on the beliefs of the members, the organization no longer has members; it has subjects. 

 

AS ONE

 

Lace to the Top

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Lace to the Top

Tags

education, parents, teacher, testing

We did not put green laces in our shoes, green looms on our wrists, and green lanyards around our necks because we hoped we would win. We put them on as a bold and impossible to ignore reminder of why we will win. We will win for our children, our schools, our teachers, and our communities. When we win, students will know they mean more than a score, parents will know that their rights mean more than the Core, and teachers will be allowed to be more than a scripted module. Kings are falling, politicians are scrambling, and corporations are worrying.

Wear your green knowing that children will be happier and their education will be stronger because of your commitment to their future.

As one.

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lacetothetop/

Twitter: @lacetothetop

King of NY?

Tags

common core, parents, students, testing

This week the politicians came out swinging and John King (as arrogant as ever) simply brushed off their words and told them he is moving forward with his agenda. 

 While King does not answer to any politician, it forces one to wonder- to whom does he answer?  Clearly it is not the politicians, students, teachers, administrators or parents.  Does anyone else matter in education? 

 How have we developed a system that allows one person to determine the trajectory of education for the entire state?  If one person is in charge, is this the best we could find?  John King only taught for 3 years prior to taking the position (1 in a public school).  His experience in education comes from his work in charter schools.  Charter schools answer to corporations because they have no choice.  Corporations are only concerned about profits and that is just about the worst motivator for schools one could think of.

 NY is not another charter school that King can sell to the highest bidders.  The parents will not allow this to happen!  King may not be listening to our concerns, but as parents we no longer have to force our children to abide by his mandates.

 Hear us now or hear us in March, it makes no difference. We are going to take our schools back!

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Where’s the Proof?

Tags

education, parents, testing

Prior to teaching, I worked for Morgan Stanley as a prime broker for hedge funds.  The year I left to pursue a career in teaching, some strange products came to the market.  They were allegedly “asset-backed” and some of the smartest people spoke with such certainty as to their value.  Requests for proof were met with more rhetoric and people continued to invest with blind faith.   Within a few months, the entire market collapsed and these securities played a significant role.

Education is following the same trajectory of “asset-backed” securities.   We are told high-stakes tests & inappropriate standards are good for our children,.  Our requests for proof are met with the infamous taglines “college and career readiness” and “rigor”.

Lace to the Top is a pro-kids movement that asks one simple question, “Where’s the proof?”  We have assembled some of the best and brightest in the education field and cannot find a shred of evidence.

There are no Common Core Social Studies Standards, but let the lesson of the Great Recession be our guide.  We can no longer sit back and follow an agenda with blind faith.  As terrible as the financial collapse was, the collapse of  education for an entire generation is far worse.

Join the pro-kids movement:

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FIRE AWAY!!!

Tags

education, parents, students, testing

When 70% of the students are labeled as failures and not meeting grade level expectations, they should have received mandatory AIS.

This year, the rules were “relaxed” since most districts could not afford to provide the required academic intervention services (AIS).  Instead, students and their parents were told they would be “monitored”.

Last summer, most districts penned letters to their communities claiming they didn’t have time or the resources available and the test was not an indication of student performance- at least not yet.

With a 70% failure rate and a promise of incremental growth, we can expect student scores to follow the path of Kentucky (currently in year 3) with 3-5% growth.

In all likelihood, 65- 68% of students will still be labeled failures again this year.  With razor thin margins, there is no guarantee a student that passed last year will pass this year.  The only guarantee is a minimal gain overall.

In year 2, can districts hide behind the same excuses when the results come out?  Is any district strong enough to support the notion that 70% (or more) of their children are failures?

In an effort to preserve communities and education, districts need to take aim at high-stakes tests.

FIRE AWAY!!!!!!!!!

Lace to the Top

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@lacetothetop

‘Twas the Night Before Testing

Tags

education, parents, testing

Twas the night before testing, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The laces were placed in the sneakers with care,
In hopes that the teacher would, too, wear a pair.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of Scantrons danced in their heads. 
The teacher, in a state of serious duress,
Had just prepped her class for a standardized test.

When back at the school there arose such a clatter,
The teacher was told to see what was the matter.
Away to the school she flew like a flash,
Then towards her classroom she made a mad dash.

The light showed each desk in its nice ordered row,
Waiting for teachers to arrive, kids in tow.
When, what to the teacher’s eyes should appear,
But a mighty Green Lacer, without hint of fear.

With his shoes all laced up and glowing with green,
The teacher knew in a moment what this would mean
More rapid than eagles his children they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Chloe! Now, Zoey! Now, Joey and Terrence!
On, Daniel! On, Mitchell! On Bradley and Clarence!
To all of the classes! Through all of the halls!
Throw tests away! Tests away! Tests away all!”

As fast as can be and with no hint of sorrow,
They got rid of tests that would greet kids tomorrow.
Then back to the classrooms they ran with delight,
With so much to do, this would be a long night.

The Green Lacer stood smiling as he gave out supplies.
What the teacher was watching brought tears to her eyes.
The children drew pictures and hung them around,
From as high as the ceiling to as low as the ground.

He said, “Students, not scores,” to each child alike
And marveled at their drawings; a puppy, a bike.
He was proud of their work and he knew in his heart,
That each of these kids was their own work of art.

His eyes– how they twinkled! He truly felt joy,
As he saw the potential of each girl and each boy.
The teacher remembered when she felt the same way
But now scripts and modules told her what to say.

She walked around slowly and thought of tomorrow
When her class sees the room it will erase all their sorrow.
It had been so long since they had really been free,
To know that answers are more than just A, B, or C.

She thought of her students and their dread of the test,
She knew what the Lacer brought was a rest.
A rest from the failure, frustration and fear,
A rest from the shackles that bound them this year.

She looked at her shoes that by magic turned green,
And wondered who would believe what she had seen.
She looked for the Lacer, whom she wanted to thank,
But alas, he was gone; her heart dropped, her face blank.
Then she remembered that her lace was green too.
To prepare for her class, she knew just what to do.
She declared loud and clear, and with all of her might,
“Children are not scores! And for all I will fight!”

https://www.facebook.com/groups/lacetothetop/

 

Mission Accomplished???

Tags

education, parents, teachers, testing

The reformers, John King and company, would have you believe that they have solved our problems and their path is the only way.  Their path starts with labeling children as failures through poorly constructed assessments.  In the name of poor tests scores, schools are then forced to subscribe to rushed curricula that are filled with errors and have no long-term data to support their claims.

Pretending we have reached the destination only detracts from reaching our goal of a quality education for all.  We have seen the curricula and the tests- they are not the answer to college and career readiness.  We are wasting our time believing that this system is working.

The children sitting in classrooms across the nation will have to solve real problems.  They face a $ 20 trillion deficit, global warming and staggering levels of poverty.  We cannot afford to waste their time and have them sit through meaningless tests at the cost of opportunities to learn.  The solutions to the world’s problems do not live in a test or in the preparation for these tests.

We do not have the answers yet; let’s stop pretending we do!!!

“He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors.” Jefferson

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@lacetothetop

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Suffolk County’s One & Only Charter School

Tags

charter schools, education, parents, taxes, testing

Riverhead Charter School was owned by a for-profit company-Edison.  After one too many issues the school was turned over.  We are unaware of the new owners at the moment.  Unlike other companies in the private sector, Riverhead Charter Schools receives all their revenue directly from the taxpayers.  While there is no cost to the students’ families, their home district pays the cost – over $15,000 per student.  There are currently 14 districts sending their students and taxes to the Riverhead Charter School.  The Riverhead School District sent their students along with 1.7 million of their tax dollars.

In the time of two percent tax caps and increasing class sizes, the Riverhead Charter  School (of only 500 students) was given a bond for $14.1 million to expand.     http://www.longisland.com/news/10-04-13/construction-begins-on-new-141-million-riverhead-charter-school-building.html

I understand the logic, if there is a better school out there why not fund it and send our children?  In the long term, Edison has proven to be extremely costly and extremely ineffective.   This is a bit startling given the per pupil spending and selective admission/aggressive discipline process.  As in example, Edison is bleeding the residents of Las Vegas dry and they have nothing to show for it:

“Edison came to town in 2001 promising to boost achievement among minority students from low-income families. Eleven years and three contract renewals later, the district has forked over more than $30 million with little student achievement.”

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/jun/22/despite-less–stellar-student-results-edison-score/

 

While we find no value in high-stakes tests, in the post Edison days RCS scores were abysmal.

As districts are preparing their budgets, please be mindful of the Riverhead Charter School line item.  We are operating under a tax cap, subject to unfunded mandates, and the sky rocketing cost of assessments are draining all of our resources.  Can we really afford another leach on the taxpayers’ wallets?

Lace to the Top

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taxes