[TNS-list] what has the mayor done!!???

[michhand at juno.com]

Sorry,  I didn't attach this properly this morning (computer nightmare since 9p last nite)   read down to list...
Sure, school boards had problems, but the Mayor has not been a solution. Our children’s education has been approached like a corporate earnings report (boost those stock prices whether you have a profit or not). Quality education is the future of our city. We need real child and family advocates and education experts looking at how to spend the money to make the best schools possible. Yes, there have been some good changes at the DOE, but right now, we need to challenge recent management accountability efforts, advocate more for families by making schools a resource for learning, safety, skills, growth, especially during the tough economic times we face. All children in NYC deserve this. Speak up, write, learn about the issues. 

This is the historical/observational overview of concerns about today's city council issue.     (my summary but I'll direct you to the stats)  
please learn more!!! write the council members to reevaluate this overly powerful force in our children's lives and future. 
here goes:
MAYORAL CONTROL HAS MEANT:  (go to the links in earlier email texts for data/citations)
*MILLIONS SPENT ON CORPORATE CONTRACTS FOR ASSESMENT/DATA/TEXTBOOK/CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
*LESS MONEY FOR CLASSROOM SUPPLIES, STAFF, TEACHER TRAINING, MUSIC, ART, AFTERSCHOOL    
*MORE BUDGET CUTS TO BE MADE WITHIN SCHOOLS DIRECTLY REMOVING MONEY FROM CLASSROOMS
*HUGE SALARIES AT TWEED FOR EXECUTIVES WORKING ON “ACCOUNTABILITY” 
*MORE PROPOSED STANDARDIZED TESTING FOR ALL GRADES INCLUDING EARLY CHILDHOOD (and test used for purposes for which they were not designed)
*MULTIPLE RESTRUCTURINGS OF DOE- ALL COSTING MONEY FOR COMMUNICATIONS, SALARIES, OFFICES  (district/region/empowerment
)
*RESTRUCTURING EFFORTS BRINGING US CLOSER TO PRIVATIZATION. SCHOOLs MUST MANAGE THEIR OWN BUDGETS BY ELECTING ONE OF 3 PLANS FOR ORGANIZATION AND ASSESSMENT. ONE CHOICE IS A PRIVATE MANANGeMENT COMPANY. 
*LACK OF REAL PARENTAL/TAXPAYER VOICE IN “cec’, ‘pep’, ‘liason  office’
*BLOOMBERG FIRED MEMBERS OF THE PANAL FOR ED. POLICY WHEN THEY DIDN’T AGREE WITH HIS PROPOSALS
*PARENTAL SURVEY DEVELOPED WITHOUT LISTENING TO WHAT PARENTS WANTED TO SHARE AND NO RESPONSE WHEN THEY DO!
*SCHOOL REPORT CARDS PUBLISHED WITHOUT GIVING MEANINGFUL REFLECTION OF SCHOOL STATUS OR WAYS TO IMPROVE SCHOOLS. THESE REPORTS USED MORE FOR REAL ESTATE APPRAISAL THAN A LOOK AT SCHOOL QUALITY
*THEN
.. MORE MONEY SPENT TO FIX THEM.
*A NON EDUCATOR AS SCHOOL’S CHANCELLOR
*PROMOTION POLICY BASED ON TEST SCORES IMPLEMENTED IN 2004 TO ELEVATE STATEWIDE 4TH GRADE SCORES (by holding back low scoring third graders) TO BOOST STATS FOR REELECTION CAMPAIGN
*CONTINUED LOW HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES
*NO IMPROVEMENT ON NATIONAL SAMPLE ASSESSMENTS FOR NYC KIDS
*NO SMALLER CLASS SIZE AND DELAYED FUNDING FOR SUCH
*ADMISSION POLICY MANDATES (YOUR SIBLINGS)
*UNION BUSTING POLICIES LIKE TEST SCORE LINKED PRINCIPAL AND TEACHER EVALUATIONS
*CONCEPTS LIKE PAYING KIDS AND FAMILIES FOR IMPROVED TEST SCORES
*IMPOSING MANDATORY STANDARDIZED LANGUAGE ARTS AND MATH CURRICULUM ON ALL BUT THE TOP 200 SCHOOLS. (what about school number201-... without evidence of student failure, poor scores and real learning).
*DUMBING DOWN OF REGENTS SCORES IN ORDER TO HAVE KIDS GRADUATE WITH A 'REGENTS DIPLOMA". THOUGH BLOOMBERG CLAIMS GRAD RATES ARE UP 
*ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, HS GRAD RATES IN NYC ARE AMONG THE LOWEST IN THE COUNTRY AND HAVE SHOWN NO IMPROVEMENT UNDER MAYORAL CONTOL OF DOE
*MAYOR'S CAPITAL PLAN FOR SCHOOL PLANNING DOESN'T INCLUDE ENOUGH SEATS IF ALL THE PREDICTED HIGH SCHOOLERS WERE TO REALLY STAY IN SCHOOL (SEE PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM'S WEBSITE). This shows that Mr. Mayor doesn't really believe his measures will improve grad rates)
*INTRODUCTION OF SIX YEARLY INTERIM ASSESSMENTS (IDEALLY STANDARDIZED) 
*SCHOOLS SPENDING SO MUCH TIME ON TEST PREP, LESS ATTENTION TO CURRICULUM, FEWER TRIPS, INVALID TESTS, LESS REAL LEARNING
Get more info at website of betsy gotbaum, national ed assoc, uft, toft, performance assessment.org, ...
write to mayor, chancellor, governor, state legislators, city council members!!!! thank you,  michele handelman (parent of 2 and pta/slt member) michhand at juno.com 917 204 4499 99 east 4th st 6a nyc 10003)
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