The Offical Website of the PJSTA

Legislation still needed, but this is promising. More to come…

Posted on February 4, 2014 by thepjsta

URGENT! Act Today!

ACTION ALERT – CHANGE REGENTS NOW

The NYS Legislature will shortly decide which candidates will be appointed to four Regents positions.
NYSAPE is endorsing four new candidates, who have made a firm commitment to change the direction of current education policies. They oppose high stakes testing and student data-sharing without parental consent. They are long-time educators and parent leaders who are respected in their communities. You can read about these candidates here: http://www.nysape.org/nysape-endorses-full-slate-of-candidates-for-the-board-of-regents.html .

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Please take the time to email and call your Assembly Member and Senator and ask that they support Mike Reilly, Regina Rose, Audrey Baker and Dr. Carol Mikoda. You will find a sample email/call script below.

Here is an easy way to access your Assembly Member and Senator contact information:
Find your Assembly Member: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/
Find your Senator: http://www.nysenate.gov/senators

Please also contact:
Speaker Silver at speaker@assembly.state.ny.us 518-455-3791

Education Chair Assembly Member Catherine Nolan at nolanc@assembly.state.ny.us 518-455-4851

Higher Education Chair Assembly Member Deborah Glick at glickd@assembly.state.ny.us 518-455-4818

Here’s a sample email/call script, please feel free to revise:
Dear [Name of Legislator] :

On February 4 and February 11, Assemblywomen Nolan and Glick will lead interviews for four positions on the Board of Regents. I am urging you to support the following four candidates: Michael Reilly, Regina Rose, Dr. Carol Mikado and Audrey Baker.

All four are experienced educators and/or parent leaders, and understand that the current policies of the NYS Education Department must be reversed. As Regents, these four candidates will fight for authentic and quality education for all children in New York State.
The incumbents sitting in those seats have expressed no willingness to do so.

The resumes and/or the surveys of Michael Reilly, Regina Rose, Dr. Carol Mikado and Audrey Baker are available on the NYSAPE website: http://www.nysape.org/regents-candidate-information.html Please let me know if you are willing to support their candidacy.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Address]

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Posted on February 3, 2014 by thepjsta

Iannuzzi Strongly Condemns “Sit and Stare” Policies

Via nysut.org…

New York State United Teachers President Richard C. Iannuzzi today called on school districts to abandon educationally unsound and unconscionable policies that force students whose parents have decided to opt them out of state testing to “sit and stare” instead of providing them with a constructive alternative.

…

“NYSUT strongly condemns the policy of ‘sit and stare’,” Iannuzzi said. “This policy aimed at students whose parents elect to ‘opt out’ their children from state standardized testing is unconscionable. It would be spiteful and counter-productive for any school district to require an administrator or teacher to direct a child to ‘sit and stare’ at a blank desk while other students are taking exams because of a choice made by a parent.”

Iannuzzi added, “This is cruel to those students not taking the exam and a distraction and disservice to those who are attempting to complete it. Punishing or embarrassing children because their parents exercised their right to choose not to have their children participate in tests they consider inappropriate is, frankly, abusive.”

…

Iannuzzi said the union would provide guidance and support to parents – or parent groups – unfairly singled out or harassed for advocating the right to opt out and added, “We will vigorously defend any NYSUT members who are subject to any negative employment considerations for choosing to opt out their own child or who advocate, to the extent permitted by law, for others who opt out of state standardized tests.”

This is very strong language from Iannuzzi in support of students, teachers, and parents. It also continues his trend of taking more aggressive stands against damaging reforms from SED. Ironically some locals are opposing his re-election bid, and supporting the slate that wants to play nice with Cuomo, because Iannuzzi wasn’t previously aggressive enough.

Today’s comments seem to be further proof that an Iannuzzi no longer beholden to Michael Mulgrew is an Iannuzzi who will take NYSUT in the direction that most NYSUT members want.