[Suleika Soto]

Hello CPC,

Wanted to share Jen's letter to the Globe.

Thank you Jen for writing such a powerful  letter!

Suleika Soto

August 4, 2023

To the Editors of the Globe, Baystate Banner, Massachusetts Democrats for Education Reform, and Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education,

As the Boston Globe’s August 3 article “Initiative seeks end of MCAS to graduate” points out, the state of Massachusetts is in the minority of states who still have a high stakes test graduation requirement. It is past due for this flawed, biased test to be retired, and for time, money and expertise to be invested in more equitable and evidence-based practices. 

Multiple studies have shown that MCAS does not predict post-high school success, including a 2015 study that the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education (MBAE) itself conducted.

MCAS also has never met the goal it was originally designed for, boosting achievement for vulnerable groups of students. In fact, there is no data that demonstrates that this non-curriculum-aligned, non-teacher-designed, non-culturally responsive test has improved learning outcomes for multilingual learners, students on IEPs, or Black and brown students.

In the business world, when an investment keeps producing dismal results, the board of directors disinvests. Yet why do business leaders and charter school advocacy groups such as Democrats for Education Reform keep pushing to pour $30+ million a year into MCAS? Is their goal truly to improve teaching and learning for our students? Or is there another agenda at work: one which seeks to privatize a public institution, and profit off children?

Why not spend the $30 million to diversify the teaching force? This is an evidence-based practice that improves outcomes for students of color. Or to design career-integrated curricula aligned with industries in MA, an objective that the MBAE says it supports? This is another evidence-based practice that in particular benefits students on IEPs. Why not spend the $30 million to build partnerships between universities and public schools, in order to grow and support initiatives like these, as well as promote innovation in both sectors? 

 

To the Globe in particular, please stop demonizing teachers and unions. It is journalistically unethical and demeans the quality of your newspaper. Please consult with the people who actually possess expertise in the area of education, deep and real experience in schools, and who hold students and their success near and dear. Please stop constantly interviewing so-called education advocates and think tank consultants who possess none of the above qualifications. It is a profound insult to our students, their families, and hard-working educators that those who profess to speak for them have never spent more than a handful of hours in schools.

Thank you,

Jen Rose-Wood

5 Thornton St

Roxbury MA 02119

I have taught in schools for 24 years, and currently teach in BPS.

[Shane Dunn]

Although I am less than one year into my term as an elected rep from my school to the CPC and lack knowledge of how we engage in these types of policy debates, I feel it's inappropriate to share an opinion piece like this (and one that comes with a clear statement of affirmation and support from the sender) without additional agreement, debate, and context from across the CPC. This is an issue getting a lot of attention and it clearly affects our schools and children. However, it's unfair to not include additional voices, viewpoints, and facts, and to allow existing opinions to be shared unchecked. How many other dozens and hundreds of opinion pieces to Boston parents, teachers, and other stakeholders submit to media outlets that we don't talk about or share widely within this group and yet this is now being shared here in a way that feels it's an official CPC position on the subject/ There's undoubtedly a range of thoughts within this listserv that shouldn't be drowned or silenced but that's the concern I have by seeing this letter shared here.

Shane Dunn

Nathan Hale School

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[Sarah Horsley]

Shane, 

I must respectfully disagree. Suleika didn't share the op ed as an official position of the CPC. And others are welcome to share differing viewpoints on this listserve.

Just to give one example, over the past 2 years, I have shared information from our group, BPS Families for COVID Safety, on this listserve countless times. Our info pieces were not endorsed in any way by the CPC!

This listserve is a place for respectful dialogue. Please keep that in mind.

Thank you,

Sarah Horsley

JFK elementary parent

Cofounder of BPS Families for COVID Safety (FamCOSa)

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/bps-cpc/CAK4dKkwMrgSkYuMCBfsQLmADkB9XbwVZYKfLbzoCYUyv5Xi-pA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Jennifer Rose-Wood]

Hello Shane and Sarah,

Sarah, this was my understanding as well, thanks for confirming.  No intention of drowning out or silencing anyone.  I am all for open dialogue and in fact wrote the letter to provide an opinion that has been drowned out in the Globe.  

Shane, since we are both at the Hale and have emailed before, please feel free to connect offline with any other CPC questions or follow-up.

Thanks,

Jen Rose-Wood 

---

From: bps...@googlegroups.com <bps...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Sarah Horsley <sarah....@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, August 7, 2023 12:24 PM
To: Shane Dunn <sdun...@gmail.com>
Cc: Suleika Soto <sulei...@gmail.com>; Citywide Parent Council <bps...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re:

 

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/bps-cpc/CAHeO7NL8mAMd2bSPgzaqSuAbUmY72cJ4Gu%2Bi5f0e-j9-HXwskg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Pamela Aimee Leins]

Hello, Shane! 

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and concerns regarding the recent sharing of the opinion piece by Suleika. I appreciate your perspective and the commitment you have shown to fostering open dialogue and diverse viewpoints within the CPC.

Your point about the importance of including a range of voices and perspectives in discussions is well-taken. It's crucial that we approach matters that affect our schools and children with a balanced and comprehensive outlook. I agree that while sharing opinions and insights can be valuable, it's equally essential to ensure that they don't inadvertently represent the official stance of the CPC without appropriate consideration and debate.

I completely understand your concern about the potential for misinformation or bias to be perceived as an official CPC position. As you rightly mentioned, it's essential to create a space where all members of the CPC feel encouraged and welcome to share their differing viewpoints. This ensures that our discussions remain open, respectful, and productive. To that end, Jen's piece was sent to share a perspective and to encourage dialogue not to represent the CPC.

Your commitment to upholding these principles as a member of the Citywide Parent Council is commendable. Encouraging an environment where diverse voices are heard, and perspectives are debated is vital for the success of our council and the betterment of our schools. Please know that your message has been noted. Your input is crucial as we work towards ensuring that the CPC continues to serve as a platform for meaningful and informed discussions.

Thank you once again for taking the time to express your viewpoint, and we look forward to collaborating with you and other members of the CPC to uphold the values of transparency and inclusivity.

Best,

Pam

CPC Leadership Team

Administration Co-Chair

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[Betsy Yoshimura]

Dear Shane et al,

Along with what Pam said, I would like to share with everyone the relevant portion of our bylaws regarding making statements on behalf of the CPC.

ARTICLE VI: CPC Business

E. Representing the CPC Externally. 

2. Making statements on behalf of the CPC. This section concerns statements to the media, in a public forum, in publications, or in a similar manner.

1. Only the Facilitation Co-Chair and Communications Co-Chair, in coordination with one another, may speak or designate another Co-Chair or CPC member to speak on behalf of the CPC.

2. The Facilitation Co-Chair, Communications Co-Chair, or speaker of their designation may only speak on behalf of the CPC as to policies or positions that the CPC has approved.

3. The Communications Co-Chair shall record and maintain a list of policies or positions that have been approved by the CPC.

4. The CPC may approve a policy or position in general terms and delegate to a CPC representative or committee the task of creating a specific statement that is true to the approved policy or position.

5. Any CPC representative may speak their own opinion publicly about a matter, and in so doing may advise that they are a CPC representative. In making such statements, the CPC representative shall make clear that they speak as an individual, not for the CPC.

Additionally, in terms of developing CPC policies or statements, the bylaws dictate:

ARTICLE VI: CPC Business

F. New Business. New business includes but is not limited to sharing information with the other CPC members, a report from a CPC committee to the CPC, a report from a CPC member sitting on an external committee, panel, task force, or other group to the CPC, a request for CPC input into an initiative or project, or proposals that the CPC take a particular action or adopt a policy position.

 

1. CPC members may initiate new business by notifying a member or members of the Leadership Team. 

2. The Leadership Team shall determine how each item of new business will be handled, including but not limited to placing the item on the agenda for a future CPC meeting; in the case of a report or sharing of information, communicating said report or information to all CPC representatives and requesting CPC members by electronic or other communication; or soliciting input from CPC representatives and requesting members about a question by electronic or other communication. 

3. A vote of the CPC, at a meeting at which there is a quorum of CPC representatives, is required for the following matters: election of Co-Chairs, removal of Co-Chairs, and amendment of the Bylaws. 

4. With respect to all other CPC business, including approval of minutes, administrative or ministerial matters, and proposals for CPC to take an action, approve a CPC policy, or adopt a position on an issue, the CPC shall engage in consensus-driven decision making. The Leadership Team shall use procedures and facilitation methods to support decision-making by consensus whenever possible, including procedures for decisions to be made at CPC meetings and outside of CPC meetings. 

5. In order to support full discussion of issues, while ensuring that CPC meetings begin and end on time, the Leadership Team may encourage or facilitate discussion of CPC business among the CPC representatives and other CPC members outside of meeting time, by electronic communication or otherwise. 

The Leadership Team is committed to following the procedures laid out by our bylaws, and we very much appreciate being held accountable by CPC members. 

Our full bylaws are available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VkLV45ehq2p4WZk93zMhYY-VF_t8Hx81oinMp3FoWZg/edit

(Note that updating our bylaws is on our agenda for the beginning of this year - we’ll be reaching out about that and other news soon.)

If anyone has any questions or comments, we are more than happy to dive in further. 

Best regards, 

Betsy Yoshimura

CPC Leadership Team

Communications Co-Chair

908-627-1537

eryos...@gmail.com

citywidepa...@gmail.com

Always learning / Siempre aprendiendo

On Aug 8, 2023, at 1:51 PM, Pamela Aimee Leins <pamela.a...@gmail.com> wrote:



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