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Hawley encourages parents opt students out of Common Core tests

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) today reminded his constituents of their ability to opt out of the Common Core tests. Hawley said the Common Core Standards have been irresponsibly implemented and parents have a right to know that they can refuse to have their children take the tests.  

“As we look forward to the warm weather that April brings, let us not forget that it also brings another round of dreaded Common Core testing,” Hawley said. “With all the conversation surrounding how teacher evaluations will be altered in the 2015-16 State Budget, we are overlooking the bigger issue of Common Core tests. Teachers are still struggling to learn new curriculum requirements, and students fear this time of year as immense pressure is placed on them to succeed on the fairly new methods of testing and learning. I sponsor the Common Core Parental Refusal Act, which mandates that school districts notify parents of their ability to have their children refuse to participate in Common Core tests without penalty to themselves or the school. To learn how you can opt out of Common Core testing, please visit www.childrenbeforepolitics.com/refuse.”

Hawley also commented on how the Assembly Minority Conference’s Achieving Pupil Preparedness & Launching Excellence (APPLE) Plan would address many salient education concerns such as Common Core and teacher evaluations. Assembly Bill 3656 is a bipartisan measure that was reintroduced earlier this year.

“Fortunately, the Assembly Minority Conference’s APPLE plan would address many of these concerns,” Hawley said. “Our plan would suspend Common Core tests for two years and create a commission, consisting of experts from the front lines of education, to evaluate all aspects of Common Core and determine a more suitable way to implement the standards. This legislation has been active since last year but was blocked by members of the Assembly Majority during last year’s session.”

Hawley’s comments come on the eve of Common Core testing which is scheduled to begin later this month. More information can be found about the Assembly Minority APPLE plan at www.childrenbeforepolitics.com/refuse.

Raymond Richardson

"Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) today reminded his constituents of their ability to opt out of the Common Core tests, and parents have a right to know that they can refuse to have their children take the tests."

The only problem is, the majority of school districts have a sit & stare policy in place for those students, whose parents have opted them out of the tests.

They should at least be allowed to work on academic work during these test so their time isn't being wasted staring at a wall.

Apr 9, 2015, 3:24pm Permalink
Dave Meyer

So apparently the thought police have been through and deleted my earlier post.

Wha'ts the deal Howard? Aren't we allowed to be critical of Hawley's positions? Or did he call you to complain?

How about I restate my position. I disagree with Hawley taking a public position that would serve to undermine what school teachers are trying to accomplish EVERY DAY for the purpose of advancing his lame political agenda. He mentions the "dreaded Common Core testing". Dreaded by who?? Does he HONESTLY think that students and parents live in constant dread and fear of this testing??? If he does, he needs to get a life.

As I said in my earlier post.....I'm 60+ years old and I can remember taking standardized tests in grade school at Oakfield-Alabama CS and it seems to me that I and others who did the same are no worse for the wear.

How would Steve suggest that teachers and the Education department accomplish the goal of measuring students' performance?

It's just more of the same from Steve...mouthing the Fox News line without giving it any thought whatsoever.

And the worst part is....he keeps getting elected simply by virtue of the party he belongs to.

Apr 10, 2015, 1:34pm Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Dave. Howard has very few rules concerning the comments posted here. But, he's been quite adamant about (personal) attacks on individuals.
I remember what your other comment said, and it definitely fit the profile of a personal attack. I even remember thinking that it'd probably only be a short time before it was deleted.
As your 2nd comment shows, there are ways to get your message across without breaking the 'rules'. You might be surprised at how many people can 'read between the lines'.

Apr 10, 2015, 2:03pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

No name calling.

I was brain dead to it the first time I read it, then a reader drew it to my attention. We don't edit comments that violate the rules. We delete them.

Apr 10, 2015, 2:12pm Permalink
Raymond Richardson

Mathew, Since there is no half vote for comments here, I can't give you a full vote either.

While I agree with your statement of sit & stare being a waste of a student's time, I don't agree with the students not going to school if they've been opted out of the testing, as that would not be beneficial either as the students would still, wast their time at home.

Apr 10, 2015, 3:32pm Permalink
Bob Harker

Not sure why my reply to Dave was deleted. I "attacked" common core - not a person.

Also, whats going on with the website? Its been taking forever to load the last couple of days. Anybody else experiencing this? This is the only site I'm having this issue with.

Apr 10, 2015, 6:05pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

If you use the reply link to a comment, and a comment is deleted, all replies are automatically deleted. That's just part of the software. Nothing I can do about it.

We're seeing no performance issues with the server.

Apr 10, 2015, 6:50pm Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Yep. I've had the same thing happening while loading thebatavian.

In the end, I decided to give the (Russkies) a break, and lay the blame squarely at the feet of Andrew Cuomo and his 'broadband initiative'. (Not that I think he really caused it, but I just don't like the guy)

Apr 10, 2015, 9:02pm Permalink
Raymond Richardson

"Its been taking forever to load the last couple of days. Anybody else experiencing this? This is the only site I'm having this issue with."

Clear your history and cookies folder on your computer.

Apr 11, 2015, 8:14am Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

I had some issues with long running script on this site the past couple days, but that issue has cleared up and loading has been normal since.

Apr 11, 2015, 8:56am Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Front page of thebatavian still takes almost 2-minutes to load, here in southwest FL.
2nd, 3rd and subsequent pages loading normal.
But, everything here seems to work slower - fear of heat stroke?

Apr 11, 2015, 10:36am Permalink
Bob Harker

The page loads immediately, but I cannot scroll for at least 1 minute. And after writing this and hit my browser's back button the same will happen.

Still happening at the time of this post. No problems with my other regular sites.

It seems to be much better w/ explorer, but w/ chrome it's horrible.

Apr 11, 2015, 5:44pm Permalink

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