Meeting of the Minds

On Friday, I had the opportunity to meet with Assemblyman Steve Englebright. I think it's important to mention that the Senate was actually closed for the day, so technically he did not have to meet with me, but he did. I know Assemblyman Englebright is an education advocate. He was the ONLY elected official to attend the Educate New York State Rally at Sachem HS a few weeks ago. Everyone had been invited, but he was the only official to stand with the teachers, parents, students, and education advocates. At that rally, Assemblyman Englebright spoke briefly about the importance of education, and had my favorite quote of the night: "Education isn't just an expense line in the budget, it's an investment."

The meeting was informative for both of us. For my part, I outlined for the Assemblyman the current New York State Testing schedule for grades 3 -8, along with the new proposals that are being discussed. These include new standardized testing four times per year for every student in Kindergarten through 4th grade to monitor progress in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math. Assemblyman Englebright was clearly surprised at the schedule, and the amount of testing our schools are mandated to implement. I also spoke about my recent screening of the education documentary Race to Nowhere and the consequences of this test crazy education philosophy. I talked about my own children's experience with the exams, and how the focus of their school days for weeks have been preparation for these exams. We talked about the enormous pressure teachers and administrators are under to ensure their kids are prepared and succeed... and the reality that not every child will or should expected to succeed with a score of 3 or 4 on the ELA.

I brought with me data that outlines the estimated costs of the testing mandates. When looking at the following numbers in black and white, the Assemblyman was shocked. The standardized tests are not only causing undue stress on our faculty and children, they are costing Comsewogue a ridiculous amount of money. And while the New York State Education Department mandates that we implement these exams and follow procedures for scoring, analyzing and mailing the data, they give us little to no funding to follow orders.

1.       Cost of scoring, analyzing, mailing assessments for grades 3-8: $180,000

2.       Statewide data collection: $10,000

3.      Training teachers on input and analysis of assessments: $40,000

4.       Beginning 2012, from Race to the Top*: Create, train and implement items and staff related to APPR and Network team requirements: $520,000

 * of the over $700 Million NYS received Comsewogue will only get $14,500 per year for four years to cover this mandate

Numbers 1-3 are costs directly related to the implementation of the New York State Standardized Exams. Those three items cost  $230,000 per year for Comsewogue. I don't know exactly how much of that we get from the state, but I do know it's a drop in the bucket compared to the actual cost.

Number 4 above refers to the estimated cost of the first year implementing a new mandate that was derived from Race to the Top funding received by NYS from the Federal Government.  There has been a lot written about this mandate in the newspapers in recent months. Essentially what this will do is use students' standardized test scores to make up a portion of a teacher's Annual Performance Review. I believe in New York, the plan is to make that 20% of the evaluation of a teacher. The dollar amount shown will be required for Comsewogue to spend in order to train staff in every Department, and at every level in evaluating their peers or subordinates. According to NYS, the teachers given the job to perform the evaluations will need to be taken out of the classroom for a year to be trained... so the District will need to continue to pay them as they train (as well as pay for the training program!) and pay for a leave replacement within the classroom. This new mandate will cost $520,000 for the first year, and Comsewogue is slated to receive $14,500 per year for 4 years to cover the mandate. That is a shortage of $462,000.

It's crazy, I know. And when you look at it, you think, "that can't be right..." but it is. And our Legislators don't even know that's what is going on.  Here's what I learned from Assemblyman Englebright. The Senate and Assembly essentially have nothing to do with these mandates. They don't vote on them, and don't hear much about them until all is said and done. These decisions are made by the State Education Department, essentially the Board of Regents. The Board of Regents is made up of 17 men and women who are appointed by the Assembly and Senate for 5 year terms. So, while our Representatives don't really have the power to change the policy, they do have the power to nominate and appoint the Regents. I already knew the Regent for Long Island is Roger Tilles. And I think soon he will know me. Assemblyman Englebright also told me of a Forum he attended last week with the Regents at Hofstra University,where they proposed new standardized tests in Art. Their theory is that if a subject isn't given mandated testing, it isn't quantifiable, and therefore seems less important.  So, now we face testing in the areas our kids look to for solace and creativity...

Moving forward, Assemblyman Englebright had several remarks. First off, we need to get a bunch of people together on the issue of standardized testing. Pull together teachers, parents, students, grandparents- anyone who really cares and organize. With a larger group pushing back and questioning policies, the Regents are more likely to listen. As I have said before, I won't be able to do this alone! He also said that he believes we will be successful in swinging the pendulum back from the testing mania, albeit not overnight. "You are starting a movement", he said. So now I ask who will join me in the movement away from standardized tests and toward well rounded, quality education? Assemblyman Englebright said he will help every step of the way, I hope you will too.

*Next Friday I will be meeting with Congressman Tim Bishop to address the same concerns on the Federal  level, and on May 6, I will be meeting with NYS Senator Ken LaValle. I attempted to set up a meeting with Senator John Flanagan, who represents a portion of Comsewogue and is also Senate Education Committee Chairman, but his office will not schedule a meeting with me because he is not my home Senator. I plan to follow up and try again!*