June, 2013
Dear Superintendent Rice, New Paltz CSD Administrators and the NPCSD BOE,
We understand that a result of New
York State’s new teacher evaluation plan (APPR) our teachers must conduct
assessments based on their Student Learning Objectives or SLOs. We also
understand that as administrators, you are following directives and complying
with mandates from New York State. However, as parents, we do not take
directives from New York State and it is our obligation to protect our
children’s emotional and educational well being. Assessment that is lacking in
educational value for our children and serves only to evaluate a teacher is not
in their best interest. Our children are not employees of New York State and
therefore may not be used as instruments for teacher evaluation. We hereby
request the following information:
· *A comprehensive list of SLO assessment that have been or will be administered
to students
· *SLO assessment administration dates
· *Learning standards to be assessed
· * Amount of time allotted for each assessment
· * The format of each assessment (computer based, timed test, written test,
multiple choice, etc)
· *Whether or not testing accommodations as specified on 504 Plans and IEPs
are being implemented
As taxpayers and as parents, we do not believe that this request is
unreasonable. A lack of transparency in this matter undermines the trust and
collaborative partnership between parents, teachers and school administers and
serves no one, especially not the children. Access
to this information will allow us to advocate for the needs of our schools and
our children. Students have already been subjected to hours upon hours of state
testing and this June some of our children were be compelled to participate in
the experimental NYS field tests. Please help us help our children and schools
before a test driven education becomes a way of life.
Thank you for
your continued communication and support of student needs.
Sincerely,
Concerned Parents of New Paltz
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