Who are the Regents Fellows?

"Barely heard of outside education circles and a mystery even within them, the "Regent fellows" are paid from entities such as the Gates Foundation and some salaries approach $200,000 a year. The arrangement is stirring concern in some quarters that deep-pocketed pedagogues are forcing their reform philosophies on an unwitting populace, and making an end run around government officers."

Click here for the complete article:

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Wealth-backs-reform-team-5006670.php?t=5abf8544d7#page-1

Following the Common Core Money - Where are Millions of Dollars Going? by Carol Burris

"According to the story, New York Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch bragged that New York State is the only state using its federal Race to the Top dollars to develop curriculum; it has spent in excess of $28 million on curriculum in English and mathematics.  That begs the question, 'Why'?"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/11/24/following-the-common-core-money-where-are-millions-of-dollars-going/

From NYS Allies for Public Education: Stand With Us

From NYS Allies For Public Education: "Our Kids, Their Well Being, Their Privacy, Our Time to Stand...Stand With Us"

Watch a recap and highlights of the movement to resist high stakes testing and harmful education reforms here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CefDdpyMmx4

SUNY New Paltz to Host 19th Annual Multicultural Education Conference

19^th Annual Multicultural Education Conference: A Million Moments for Ensuring Equity and Creating Change

http://ucboces.schoolwires.com/408920101091042400/lib/408920101091042400/_Files/2013_MEC_online_brochure.pdf

Registration is still open.

Featuring:

CHALLENGING STANDARDIzATION, PROMOTING EQUITY

While educators work hard in a test-driven system to help students achieve, some have concurrently pushed back against standardizing policies that discount multicultural curriculum and pedagogy. Presenters share their hopeful stories about alliances with administrators, parents and educators that support students while also resisting harmful policies. interactive activities will follow. Nancy Schniedewind, Humanistic/Multicultural Education Program, SUNY New Paltz; Brian Jones, CUNY Graduate Center & Movement of Rank and File Educators, NYC; Felipa Gaudet, Teacher, G.W. Montessori School, Kingston; Aviva Kafka, Assist. Superintendent Pupil Services, Hyde Park Schools; Kt Tobin and Bianca Tanis, Re- ThinkingTesting; Katie Zahedi, Principal, Red Hook Schools.

Finnish Educational Success: Hard Truths for the U.S., SUNY New Paltz, 10/24/13

Forum on Public Education and the Impact of Testing and Mandates

ATTENTION PARENTS: The Kingston City School District's DWPC (District Wide Parents Council) Hosts Forum on Public Education and the Impact of Testing and Mandates on October 22nd.

District Wide Parents’ Council of the Kingston City School District is hosting A Forum on Public Education and the Impact of Testing and Mandates in conjunction with Senator Cecilia Tkaczyk’s office on Tuesday October 22, 2013.  The purpose of this forum is to give voice to the strains that school districts in Ulster County are feeling due to increased testing and related state and federal mandates.  At the forum our state legislators will have the opportunity to hear from invited educators and parents about the Impact of State Mandates and Testing on K-12 Students.

Please mark your calendars to attend this forum and hear about the challenges our public school system in Ulster County is facing and to show your support as we work towards solutions to these challenges.

A Forum on Public Education and the Impact of Testing and Mandates
Hosted by DWPC in conjunction with Senator Cecilia Tkaczyk’s office
Date:  Tuesday October 22, 2013
Time:  5pm – 7pm
Place:  MJM Gym – Kingston High School  403 Broadway, Kingston New York 12401

Oral testimony at the forum is by invitation only.  All are welcomed to provide written testimony, which can be submitted at the forum, or sent to Tkaczyk@nysentate.gov before the forum.  Please use the subject line:  EDUCATION FORUM TESTIMONY.

Jolyn Safron, DWPC Co-Chairwoman/DWPC High-stakes Testing Committee chair

(845) 331-3130
www.kingstoncityschools.org/DWPC

Action Alert from New York State Allies for Public Education

Below is a template that can be used for phone calls, faxes and emails to Governor Cuomo, Meryl Tisch, Senators Flanagan, Klein and Skelos. Speaker of the House Sheldon Silver and Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan.

It is urgent that parents, educators and concerned citizens contact these individuals DAILY and demand the resignation of NYS Commissioner of Education John King. New Yorkers deserve real leadership, leadership that values the voices and concerns of parents.

Urgent Action Template: Demand the Resignation of Commissioner King

http://www.scribd.com/doc/176251227/Urgent-Action-Template-Demand-the-Resignation-of-Commissioner-King