Posted March 24, 2017
PRESS RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Gracemarie Rozea, President
Kyle McCauley Belokopitsy, Esq., Executive Director
518-452-8808 (office)
518-817-3017 (cell)
March 24, 2017 (Albany) – Over the next weeks our students will take the 3-8 English Language Arts and Math state standardized tests. NYS PTA reaffirms support for a parent’s right to make educational decisions for their children.
“NYS PTA strongly supports a parent’s right to make informed educational decisions for their children,” noted Gracemarie Rozea, NYS PTA President. “We fully support the right of every parent to decide what is best for their child, which includes decisions around their child’s participation in state assessment.”
Executive Director Kyle Belokopitsky added, “NYS PTA believes that schools must establish a balanced use of assessments to inform instruction without over testing or emphasizing test performance. We do not support the use of a single test or assessment for placement, promotion, retention decisions or other high-stakes decisions affecting students. Over-emphasis on high-stakes testing, especially tests that can be linked to both educator and school accountability, is detrimental to students and the education process.”
NYS PTA previously submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Education on this issue, which can be found here:
- July 28, 2016 letter to former Secretary of Education Dr. John B. King, Jr.
- September 9, 2016 letter to former Secretary of Education Dr. John B. King, Jr.
Read NYS PTA’s Position Paper entitled “Assessment, Testing and Learning” here.
NYS PTA is committed to making every child’s potential a reality and looks forward to working with New York State officials to see that every child’s dream is achieved.
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