What Does the Opt-Out Movement Want?
Charging that Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State legislature in “Albany failed to act in the best interest of the children of New York,” NYS Allies for Public Education (NYSAPE) has issued a new manifesto for the opt-out movement - A New Framework for Public Education in NYS: Building a Vision that Serves ALL Students.
According to NYSAPE spokesperson Jeanette Deutermann, Nassau County public school parent and founder of Long Island Opt Out, “Grassroots organizations worked feverishly this spring to push for legislation to correct the mistakes made by our legislators and our Governor last year. Once again, the Albany leadership failed to respond to the growing tide of discontent. Parents will respond in kind this November. While others may celebrate this hollow victory of a fleeting reprieve, parent organizations will continue to fight for what is in the best interest of our children and the health of our public schools. Our message has been loud, clear, direct, and unwavering. The time for excuses are long gone.”
Bianca Tanis, Ulster County public school parent and educator, explained “Until we ensure that our schools have the resources to meet the needs of all children, test scores are meaningless and only serve to widen the opportunity gap, hurting the most vulnerable students. A test driven accountability system allows those in power to distract the public from their refusal to fully fund our schools and denies all but the wealthiest, a well-rounded and child-centered education.”
The NYSAPE framework includes a list of what “NYS Allies for Public Education believes all schools must have in order to foster creative, critically thinking, confident, well-rounded, independent, self-motivated, culturally competent, and well-prepared students who can work cooperatively and excel post-high school, whether they choose to attend college or pursue a vocation.” NYSAPE argues that in the United States today the “misguided focus on test scores distracts from critical conversations about what all students need to be successful and about the goals of public education.” The focus on testing lacks educational validity and “most importantly, hurts students.”
The NYSAPE Framework is divided into sections on standards, curriculum, assessment, resources, the needs of children who receive special services, and the What Does the Opt-Out Movement Want?:
Big Education Ape: Stop John King's Test and Punish Regulations - Network For Public Education - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2016/06/stop-john-kings-test-and-punish.html
