By Tiffany Lankes | The Buffalo News City & Region
“In one of her most significant actions as state education commissioner, MaryEllen Elia has granted Buffalo Superintendent Kriner Cash unprecedented power to make changes at the district’s most struggling schools, bypassing the teachers union contract.
Those changes could include a longer school day and year, required teacher training and more control over staffing – all things Cash says are essential to improve student performance.”
By Susan Edelman | New York Post
“A middle-school teacher has been disciplined — but not fired — for his unapologetic remarks about his students’ breasts.
Annan Boodram, a seventh- and eighth-grade English teacher at MS 206 in The Bronx, told a student in class, “Your boobs are staring at me,” according to a disciplinary decision filed with the state.
He told another, “Those things are bothering me.”
And a third, “Your ‘friends’ are staring at me.”
Hearing officer Donald Kinsella slapped the 13-year veteran teacher with a $7,500 fine and 10 hours of sensitivity and anti-sex- harassment training after a nine-day administrative trial.”
By Ben Chapman, Lisa L. Colangelo | New York Daily News
“The first public hearing of Gov. Cuomo’s Common Core Task Force in the city drew about 100 people to LaGuardia Community College Friday afternoon – parents, educators and students bitterly divided over the issue.
About two dozen signed up to speak, asking task force members Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan and Brooklyn teacher Kishayna Hazlewood to toss the Common Core, saying it was forcing a test-driven curriculum in schools while others expressed the need to keep high expectations of students.”
By The Associated Press
“WASHINGTON — Most states now require that teachers be evaluated, at least in part, on student test scores, according to a state-by-state analysis released Wednesday by the National Council on Teacher Quality.
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States where student test scores are the key factor in teacher evaluations:
Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee as well as the District of Columbia.”
By Patrick Wall | Chalkbeat NY
“The state’s outgoing education policy chief on Wednesday implored Gov. Andrew Cuomo to preserve the state’s new tougher learning standards and exams, despite mounting opposition from parents and teachers unions.
Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch, who recently announced she will step down in March, oversaw the state’s rocky shift to the Common Core standards and tests. Cuomo backed the switch to more challenging learning goals, but he has sharply criticized the way the state education department managed the transition.”
By Khulia Pringle | Citizen Ed
“When I wrote my last piece about the need for educators to hear black mothers and stop acting like we’re a problem instead of the solution, I didn’t expect the response it got.
It felt good to see so many black woman share it with others and give me positive feedback. I heard y’all. I am not alone. Many of us are putting in the work only to be talked about as if we are doing the parenting thing all wrong. So we have to speak up, and push back.”
Khulia Pringle | Citizen Ed
“Every morning I woke up and got my kids dressed, ready for school. They knew I was serious as a heart attack when it comes to education. I realize this isn’t what the world believes happens when they think of me. As a black mother living in an urban area I’m supposed to be disengaged. I’m supposed to be uncaring or out of touch. That’s the official story about me and others like me. I hear it from so many sources. We’re supposed to be struggling so much that we can’t be trusted to do at home what middle-class America wants us to do.
Message received. Duly noted.”
By Lexie Woo | Education Post
“My first year teaching, I was fresh out of college, a graduate of New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development. Having completed my student teaching in high-performing elementary schools in Manhattan, I entered the Title I public middle school where I began my career with certain expectations.
I expected students to have ample access to technology, including well-equipped classrooms with Smartboards or document cameras. I expected students to have textbooks and curricula that were current and relevant. Finally, I expected students to have access to a full range of special education and support services, such as counselors, speech and language providers, social workers and physical therapists.”
Monica Disare | Chalkbeat NY
“New York City and New York state’s scores on the test known as the nation’s report card stagnated this year, with fourth-grade math scores declining slightly.
The numbers, released Wednesday, mirror national trends. Across the country, fourth- and eighth-graders posted lower scores on the math and reading tests than in 2013, the last time the tests were administered.
“We’re trying not to read too much in a decline in at this point ,” said Peggy Carr, acting commissioner of the National Center of Education Statistics, which administers NAEP. “We understand it’s a pattern consistent across many states, but … we don’t know yet if these changes we’re talking about today are long-term. ”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 26, 2015
Contact: Melody Meyer (Partnership for Educational Justice): 646-770-7061 or melody@edjustice.org
NEW YORK PARENTS RALLY IN SUPPORT OF JUDGE’S DECISION TO DENY MOTION TO DISMISS, ALLOWING THE WRIGHT V. NEW YORK CASE FOR EDUCATIONAL JUSTICE TO CONTINUE
Friday’s ruling from Justice Minardo marks the second victory for the parent plaintiffs, after an earlier motion to dismiss was denied last March
New York, NY – Today, parent plaintiffs in Wright v. New York, the lawsuit challenging the State’s teacher employment and dismissal statutes, rallied and celebrated with supporters following Friday’s decision by Justice Philip Minardo of the Staten Island Supreme Court to deny the defendants’ renewed motion to dismiss and allow the case to move forward. This is the second time the court has denied a motion to dismiss from the defendants. Supporters hailed the court’s decision as an important victory for the Wright v. New York plaintiffs, who are eager to have their case heard by the court.
Jay Lefkowitz, Kirkland & Ellis Senior Partner and lead plaintiffs’ counsel for Wright v. New York, said, “We are pleased that Justice Minardo has decided for the second time to allow this lawsuit proceed and has once again rejected the effort by the State, the City, and the teachers’ unions to stop this lawsuit. New York State’s constitution guarantees all children in the state a sound basic education, and the current teacher employment statutes are simply failing in this regard by keeping ineffective teachers in our public schools. We look forward to the day when we can put on our evidence at trial and vindicate the rights of parents and children across the state.”
Keoni Wright, father from Brooklyn and Wright v. New York lead plaintiff, said, “As a father fighting for a fair education for my children, it feels good to be validated by Justice Minardo once again. Parents across New York State trust public schools to provide their kids with a quality education, and unfortunately, far too many parents have seen their schools fall short. We are fighting not just for our children, but for all children who have fallen through the cracks of a broken system that puts the interests of adults before those of students. We are looking forward to our day in court on behalf of all New York families.”
Tauana Goins, mother from Queens and Wright v. New York plaintiff, said, “Speaking for myself and the other parents serving as plaintiffs, we are thrilled that Justice Minardo has again sided with New York’s students and families. The defendants have tried over and over to make our case go away, but this latest victory means that we are here to stay until the fight for educational justice has been heard. Our case will not only advocate on behalf of students, but it will also bring to light important information about our schools, and which children are most likely to suffer with a harmful and ineffective teacher. Parents deserve to know the truth and we will not stand down until educational justice has been served.”
Angeles Barragan, madre de Bronx y demandante en Wright v. New York, dijo: “Me llena de alegría que el tribunal permita que nuestro caso avance, ¡aun ante los intentos de los abogados del demandado de desestimar el caso! Llegué desde México a los Estados Unidos para tener la seguridad de que mis hijos pudieran ir a la escuela y recibir la educación que merecían. Está mal que las leyes de New York apoyen a maestros que no incentivan a los estudiantes. No aceptaré que mi hija no pueda progresar en la escuela y no dejaré de luchar hasta presentarme ante el tribunal.”
Justice Minardo’s refusal to dismiss the plaintiffs challenge to New York State’s teacher employment statutes reaffirms his previous decision that the Wright v. New York case for educational justice should move forward. The court first ruled in the plaintiffs’ favor this past March when Justice Minardo denied the defendants’ first motion to dismiss, writing in his decision that “we will not close the courthouse door to parents and children with viable constitutional claims.” Despite the court’s decision that the plaintiffs had viable constitutional claims, the defendants filed a second motion to dismiss last spring, arguing that recent reforms to New York State’s education laws remedied any claims of constitutional harm.
During oral arguments last August, the Wright v. New York plaintiffs and counsel urged the court to deny this new motion on the grounds that recent minor amendments to the state education law do not remedy the current constitutional harm inflicted on children by New York’s education law. On Friday, Justice Philip Minardo agreed with the plaintiffs’ arguments, writing that “In this case, the legislature’s marginal changes affecting, e.g., the term of probation and/or the disciplinary proceedings applicable to teachers, are insufficient to” prevent this case from moving forward.
The Wright v. New York case was first filed in 2014, when nine families from across the state brought suit against the State of New York and others, claiming that teacher tenure and dismissal laws deprive New York children of their right to a sound basic education as guaranteed under the New York State Constitution.
ABOUT PARTNERSHIP FOR EDUCATIONAL JUSTICE
Partnership for Educational Justice (PEJ) is a team of parent leaders, education advocates, and legal experts dedicated to reclaiming the promise of public education for all students. PEJ helps students, families, and communities advocate for better public schools through coalition-building and legal action. Specifically, PEJ works with parents and students to challenge antiquated laws that prevent public schools from providing all students with a good education. Our targeted litigation strategy is supported by a coordinated communications campaign at the local, state, and national levels that increases pressure on legislators and other decision-makers to improve our education system for the benefit of all children.
Founded by Campbell Brown, an award-winning journalist and writer, Partnership for Educational Justice is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. PEJ is grateful to have the support and counsel of various attorneys at Kirkland & Ellis, including Jay Lefkowitz. These talented and mission-driven individuals are donating their services pro bono to ensure all students in New York have access to the teachers they deserve.
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