Fw: Press Release: New York City Parents Union Launches "Get It Done 4 Kids!" Campaign

[catheri...@yahoo.com]

Hello, Everyone -

Check this out, if you haven't already.

I believe we can help to ensure that city public schools, including PS9, don't lose even more, much-needed funding on Feb. 15th. Let's make our voices heard.

Catherine

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From: New York City Parents Union <ad...@nycparentsunion.org>

Sender: "New York City Parents Union" <admin=nycparent...@mail175.us4.mcsv.net>

Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:20:42 +0000

To: <Catheri...@yahoo.com>

ReplyTo: New York City Parents Union <ad...@nycparentsunion.org>

Subject: Press Release: New York City Parents Union Launches "Get It Done 4 Kids!" Campaign

New York City Parents Union Launches "Get It Done 4 Kids!" Campaign   Our Kids Cannot Afford To Lose $1 Billion On Top Of The Already Lost $450 Million Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release January 23, 2013 Contact: Mona Davids, (646) 481-5760 New York City Parents Union Launches   "Get It Done 4 Kids!" Campaign   Our Kids Cannot Afford To Lose $1 Billion On Top Of The Already Lost $450 Million   NEW YORK - Today, the New York City Parents Union launched the “Get It Done 4 Kids!” campaign.  This parent-led campaign will pressure the New York City Department of Education (DOE) and United Federation of Teachers (UFT) to “Get It Done” and negotiate a fair and meaningful teacher evaluation system for our children. After more than a year of negotiating, on January 17, the DOE and UFT failed to meet the deadline for a teacher evaluation system.  Their failure caused our schools to lose $450 Million in state education funding and federal grants.  During this debacle, unfortunately, parents were minimally informed about the issues through press releases, opinion pieces, and coverage of the DOE and UFT’s dueling press conferences.  There was no direct outreach to parents by either side. On January 18, New York State Education Commissioner John B. King, Jr., notified the DOE that our children will lose an additional $1 Billion in education funding if the DOE and UFT do not agree on a teacher evaluation system by February 15, 2013 and implement it by March 1, 2013. "New York City's public school students -- our children -- need the DOE and UFT to sit down and negotiate a teacher evaluation system immediately," said Mona Davids, a public school parent and President of the New York City Parents Union (NYCPU). "As parents, we want them to start the work now and we are making demands to make sure that this happens." "We respect the fact that a fair and meaningful teacher evaluation system is a difficult issue.  But it is also reality that one has to be put in place," said Ms. Davids.  "Parents will now know who our allies are from the response to our demands and the willingness of the DOE and the UFT to get it done."   As a parent body, the NYCPU can contribute to creating solutions.  The NYCPU demands the following: The DOE and UFT shall agree to a teacher evaluation system that is a pilot project for policymakers to evaluate over the next four (4) years. The DOE and UFT shall agree upon and implement a teacher evaluation system that (a) is sensible and fair to teachers by placing high-stakes test scores in the proper context, (b) provides support for struggling teachers, and (c) is definitive in holding failing teachers accountable for their poor performance.  Towards this end, we propose that, amongst the other provisions of the agreement, one component be a clear "Three strikes and out" policy - any teacher who receives the lowest rating for three (3) consecutive years will be terminated. Parents shall have a direct voice in the next round of negotiations between the DOE and UFT.  Specifically, the NYCPU will select three (3) parents to be "in the room" during negotiations.  These parents will consider the proposals put forward by each side and provide input.  Parents will want to determine for ourselves who to hold accountable for the success or failure of these negotiations.  The NYCPU is taking action because it is time to act.  New York City's children cannot afford another deadlock. Let's get it done for our kids! Visit "Get It Done 4 Kids!" online at www.getitdone4kids.com # # #   Copyright © 2013 New York City Parents Union, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are a parent/guardian who cares about educating all children. Our mailing address is: New York City Parents Union 225 Broadway Suite 1902 New York, NY 10007 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences