In the next two weeks there will be three events of significance concerning the Common Core and high-stakes testing that you may be interested in attending.
No tickets are required for these events. People can just show up.
A flyer for the PTA-Commissioner King events and a letter providing details of the Assembly forum are attached.
On Tuesday, October 15, from 7:00-9:00 p.m., Commissioner John King and/or other SED officials will conduct a town hall meeting at Garden City High School to discuss the Common Core. This is one of a series of such meetings arranged by the NYS PTA.
As a request from Senator Marcellino, the commissioner is planning to do another town hall meeting at 3:00 p.m. on the same day (October 15) for the residents of Senate District 5 at Oyster Bay High School, 150 East Main Street, Oyster Bay.
On Thursday, October 24, from 4:00-8:00 p.m., Assembly members Graf, Ra, McDonough and others will conduct an open forum on education reform, Common Core and high-stakes testing at the Jones Recital Hall of SUNY Old Westbury. The hearing will include two hours of pre-registered oral testimony followed by two hours of comments from members of the audience. Additional information about this event may be found at http://www.fixnyschools.com/
For the PTA events with the commissioner those who wish to speak will be asked to register as a speaker upon arrival. Those who wish to ask questions will be given a card on which to write their questions.
For the Assembly forum, speakers should preregister by October 15 with the Assembly Minority Office of Public Affairs at 518-455-5073 or by email at minpaff@assembly.state.ny.u
While these events will occur in fairly close proximity to each other, they provide important opportunities to engage professional issues-oriented members who may not normally view themselves activists by allowing them to speak out as professional practitioners. These events are also opportunities to strengthen coalitions with community groups and local PTAs, and to demonstrate to Commissioner King that there is a united voice in opposition to the course he is trying to chart for public education in New York.
A strong showing of NYSUT members at both of these events will strengthen our efforts to get public education back on the right track. Please contact me or our office with any questions.
In support,
Nidya Degliomini
President
Herricks Teachers' Association