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Gov. Cuomo forgets that teachers are parents too

Posted 3/17/15

To the Editor: Response to the governor’s education agenda is often depicted as “teachers versus parents”, thereby allowing Governor Cuomo to easily claim, “I haven’t met a parent in the …

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Gov. Cuomo forgets that teachers are parents too

Posted

To the Editor:

Response to the governor’s education agenda is often depicted as “teachers versus parents”, thereby allowing Governor Cuomo to easily claim, “I haven’t met a parent in the state who disagrees with me on my position with failing teachers."

Cuomo forgets that teachers are parents, too. New York State Parent Teacher Association, representing approximately 300,000 parents, teachers, and students in more than 1,400 districts, largely opposes the governor’s proposals.

NYS PTA opposes holding school aid formula hostage to an education reform agenda. NYS PTA states, “a budget without detail puts school districts and children in a very tenuous planning position that will detract from learning rather than enhance it.” Even if legislators do agree to the reform agenda, the $1.1 billion budgeted is too little given the $1 billion in GEA loans and $4.7 billion in foundation aid owed to school districts.

NYS PTA opposes raising the cap on charter schools. It supports the charter school concept, “with the proviso that charter school funding not detract from the State’s obligation to fund public schools.” According to New York Daily News journalist Juan Gonzalez, Cuomo’s “new facilities” fund for charter schools will cost $2,600 per pupil. Incidentally, Gonzalez also reported that Governor Cuomo received $4.8 million dollars in political contributions from hedge fund executives investing in charter schools.

NYS PTA opposes basing 50% of teacher evaluation on testing stating, “Until planned instructional reforms have been properly implemented, the links between teacher performance and student test results should be suspended.” NYS PTA supports strengthening the system already negotiated between the teachers union and the state and adopted by the Board of Regents in 2011.

NYS PTA recognizes that teacher evaluation data is invalid and unreliable; it neither measures what it purports to measure nor does it take into account uncontrolled variables impacting teacher performance, such as testing of content not yet provided, increasing poverty, and years of decreased education funding.

It is not teachers, but the Governor, who has failed public schools by not providing adequate funding required by law. His criticism of public schools and teachers is a ploy to dismantle public education, decrease local control of schools, and to open the door to privatization of education.

Parents, teachers, and students should visit NYS PTA’s Advocacy page at nyspta.org for more information. Urge your legislators to support our children, teachers, and schools by opposing the governor’s education budget and reform agenda.

Lynn A. Hall

Potsdam