I-REFUSE MOVEMENT

Please contact ST CAUCUS with questions on our position.
New York State Allies for Public Education (NYSAPE), NY BATs, Lace to the Top (LttT), STCaucus, Long Island Opt-Out (LIOO), and the Port Jefferson Station Teacher’s Association (PJSTA) have collaborated to write the following Test Refusal/APPR Resolution. These organizations are in full support of this document and encourage education leaders and local union chapters across NYS to adopt this resolution. By adopting this resolution, local unions pledge to oppose high stakes testing, to advocate for an engaged and socially relevant curriculum that is student-based and supported by research; and to ask that their members refuse the NYS tests for their own children in grades 3-8. 

Please share this resolution widely and show your support and solidarity for this action by displaying the “My Child is Refusing the NYS Tests” or “Less Testing, More Teaching” bumper sticker. These stickers and magnets are available in the NYSAPE Café Press store here.  We will also send the image files upon request to anyone interested in printing themselves or purchasing in bulk from the vendor of their choice.  - See more at: http://www.nysape.org/resolution-to-support-the-ldquoi-refuserdquo-movement.html#sthash.cNlhL8ou.dpuf
Resolution to Support “The I Refuse Movement” to Oppose High Stakes Testing

WHEREAS, the purpose of education is to educate a populace of critical thinkers who are capable of shaping a just and equitable society in order to lead good and purpose-filled lives, not solely prepare that populace for college and career; and

WHEREAS, instructional and curricular decisions should be in the hands of classroom professionals who understand the context and interests of their students; and

WHEREAS, the education of children should be grounded in developmentally appropriate practice; and

WHEREAS, high quality education requires adequate resources to provide a rich and varied course of instruction, individual and small group attention, and wrap-around services for students; and

WHEREAS, the state assessments are not transparent in that–teachers and parents are not allowed to view the tests and item analysis will likely not be made available; and

WHEREAS, the assessment practices that accompany Common Core State Standards – including the political manipulation of test scores – are used as justification to label and close schools, fail students, and evaluate educators; therefore be it

RESOLVED that NYSUT opposes standardized high stakes testing that is currently pushed by the Federal and State governments, because this testing is not being used to further instruction for children, to help children, or to support the educational needs of children; and be it further

RESOLVED, that NYSUT advocates for an engaged and socially relevant curriculum that is student-based and supported by research; and be it further

RESOLVED, that NYSUT will embark on internal discussions to educate and seek feedback from members regarding standardized high stakes testing and its impact on students; and be it further

RESOLVED, that NYSUT will lobby the NYS Education Department (NYSED) to eliminate the use of high stakes testing; and be it further

RESOLVED, that NYSUT will ask that all of its members have their own children refuse to take the Grade 3-8 assessments: and be it further  

RESOLVED, that NYSUT will organize other members and affiliates to increase opposition to high stakes testing; and be it further

RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution will be sent to the NYSED, the Governor of NYS, and all members of the NYS legislative branch; and be it finally

RESOLVED, that after this resolution is passed by the YOUR LOCAL’S NAME Representative Council, an appropriate version will be submitted to the American Federation of Teachers for consideration at the AFT July 2015 Convention and to NYSUT for consideration at the 2015 RA.
  • Associated Teachers of Huntington
  • Baldwin Teachers Association
  • Bellmore-Merrick United Secondary Teachers
  • Bellport Teachers Association
  • Brentwood Teachers Association
  • Brockport Teachers Association
  • Camden Teachers Association
  • Central Islip Teachers Association
  • Connetquot Teachers Association
  • Farmingdale Federation of Teachers
  • Fulton Teachers Association
  • Hamburg Teachers Association
  • Ichabod Crane Teachers Association
  • Kingston Teachers Federation
  • Lancaster Central Teachers Association.
  • Lakeland Federation of Teachers
  • Levittown Teachers Union
  • Lindenhurst Teachers Association
  • Locust Valley School Employees Association
  • Miller Place Teachers Association
  • New Hartford Teachers Association 
  • New Paltz United Teachers 
  • New Rochelle Federation of United School Employees
  • New York Mills Teachers' Association
  • North Rockland Teachers Association
  • North Syracuse Education Association
  • Patchogue-Medford Congress of Teachers
  • Plainedge Federation of Teachers
  • Plainview-Old Beth Page Congress of Teachers
  • Port Jefferson Teachers Association
  • Port Jefferson Station Teachers Association
  • Rocky Point Teachers Association
  • Rome Teachers Association
  • Shenendehowa Teachers Association
  • Sherburne-Earlville Teachers' Association
  • Smithtown Teachers Association
  • Springville Faculty Association
  • Shoreham Wading River Teachers Association
  • Teachers Association of Lindenhurst
  • Troy Teachers Association
  • West Babylon Teachers Association
  • West Canada Valley Teachers Association
Please encourage your members to purchase/replicate these bumper stickers/magnets to support test refusal as a way to stop corporate education reform.    http://www.cafepress.com/nysalliesforpubliceducation - See more at: http://www.nysape.org/resolution-to-support-the-ldquoi-refuserdquo-movement.html#sthash.cNlhL8ou.dpuf