Campaign Update
(May 19, 2008) Parents Demand Swift Intervention of the State Education Department(Albany, NY)--Parents and education advocacy groups from across the state delivered a protest letter to the NYS Board of Regents today calling on them to take a tough stand with local school districts regarding Contracts for Excellence, the state’s new accountability system tied to funding increases for low performing school districts. The letter highlights specific problems parents have found with how local districts, including Buffalo and New York City, are designing their 2008-09 Contract. The Regents were presented with light bulbs to illustrate the need for greater openness and transparency in the Contract for Excellence process. Last year only 11% of districts complied with the Regents' requirement for public participation. The parent and education organizations demanded that the Regents take immediate action to ensure that each district complies with state law and regulations.
"The Contract for Excellence process is required by law to include the public. The Education Department and the Board of Regents must adopt and enforce strong regulations to include public participation and full transparency. Every district must comply with the governing regulations. There can be no exceptions. The Regents must see to it that each and every district is in full compliance with the law. Another year of the State Education Department tolerating non-compliance by school districts is unacceptable," said Nikki Jones, Communications Coordinator, Alliance for Quality Education.
Click HERE to read release in full.
Tell us what's going on in your community & school
