Seward backs new education reform bill
ONEONTA – Republican State Senator James Seward (R-51st District) is on board with a bill seeking major changes in New York State education policy.
Citing massive pushback against state standardized testing and teacher performance reviews, Seward announced Friday that he is co-sponsoring legislation that relates to performance reviews of classroom teachers and building principals and the comprehensive review of education standards administered by the state department of education.
“After rejecting many of the governor’s education proposals, I secured modifications in the state budget that will reduce standardized testing and test preparation, and require education professionals to revise the teacher evaluations system,” said Seward. “Changing the governor’s bad proposal was just the first step. I know more reforms are needed to make certain our children are truly receiving a quality education and teacher evaluations are fair. This legislation will help reach that goal.”
The bill encompasses several reforms including:
• Extension of the comment period on state education department (NYSED) regulations so that more teachers and school boards can participate
• A pushed back deadline for approved Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) modifications from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15
• Requirements for NYSED to release test questions and answers from the grades 3-8 math and ELA tests by June 1 each year
• Assurance that teachers’ growth score within the APPR will account for certain factors, such as students with disabilities, poverty and academic history
• The creation of a content review committee to verify that exams are age appropriate and within grade-level expectations
• Requirements for NYSED to review, with education stakeholders, the effectiveness and appropriateness of Common Core standards.
With the announcement Friday that he will cosponsor the bill, Seward noted the sweeping test refusal movement that severely impacted the number of students who took the math and ELA tests in April. According to NYS Allies for Public Education, more than 202,800 students across the state refused the ELA test. Another 180,100 refused the math test.
While the $1.4 billion increase in school aid was a sign of progress in this year’s budget, Seward said more is needed to see to it that teachers and students can excel in the classroom.
“Many parents decided not to have their children take standardized tests this spring and federal funds tied to these testing numbers should not be in jeopardy,” Seward added. “I am calling on our federal representatives to back up our parents on this issue, and to reduce the number of required standardized tests.”
The bill has been referred to the Senate Education Committee.
Citing massive pushback against state standardized testing and teacher performance reviews, Seward announced Friday that he is co-sponsoring legislation that relates to performance reviews of classroom teachers and building principals and the comprehensive review of education standards administered by the state department of education.
“After rejecting many of the governor’s education proposals, I secured modifications in the state budget that will reduce standardized testing and test preparation, and require education professionals to revise the teacher evaluations system,” said Seward. “Changing the governor’s bad proposal was just the first step. I know more reforms are needed to make certain our children are truly receiving a quality education and teacher evaluations are fair. This legislation will help reach that goal.”
The bill encompasses several reforms including:
• Extension of the comment period on state education department (NYSED) regulations so that more teachers and school boards can participate
• A pushed back deadline for approved Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) modifications from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15
• Requirements for NYSED to release test questions and answers from the grades 3-8 math and ELA tests by June 1 each year
• Assurance that teachers’ growth score within the APPR will account for certain factors, such as students with disabilities, poverty and academic history
• The creation of a content review committee to verify that exams are age appropriate and within grade-level expectations
• Requirements for NYSED to review, with education stakeholders, the effectiveness and appropriateness of Common Core standards.
With the announcement Friday that he will cosponsor the bill, Seward noted the sweeping test refusal movement that severely impacted the number of students who took the math and ELA tests in April. According to NYS Allies for Public Education, more than 202,800 students across the state refused the ELA test. Another 180,100 refused the math test.
While the $1.4 billion increase in school aid was a sign of progress in this year’s budget, Seward said more is needed to see to it that teachers and students can excel in the classroom.
“Many parents decided not to have their children take standardized tests this spring and federal funds tied to these testing numbers should not be in jeopardy,” Seward added. “I am calling on our federal representatives to back up our parents on this issue, and to reduce the number of required standardized tests.”
The bill has been referred to the Senate Education Committee.
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