171 Dekalb Street Tonawanda, NY 14150 elm.email@verizon.

net 716-553-1123

November 6, 2013

Chancellor Tisch, I am writing to you on behalf of many parent-leaders to respectfully request a face-to-face meeting with you and the NYS Board of Regents. Thousands upon thousands of parents in New York State object to recent trends in education reform, and this has prompted parents in NYS to revolt against high-stakes testing, sharing of personally identifiable private data, and Common Core. These parents look to groups like NYS Allies for Public Education and many others for leadership and support. We are simply a group of parents with diverse careers that have united to do what is best for our families. We have no agenda other than the wellbeing of our children. Education Commissioner John King has a history of not listening to parents, and at his recent public forums he continues to reveal that he will not take any action to accommodate what parents know is best for their own children. Parents of NYS are continuing to call for his resignation. We are requesting that you and the Board of Regents meet with me and fellow parent-leaders, in a public setting, for an open and transparent discussion and dialogue about what is best for our children. We understand that at present you do not agree with what parents want for their children. Our goal is that we can meet and have real discussion leading to real action that will best help our children in a way that is most meaningful for them and for the parents that raise them and pay tax dollars for their education. Thank you for addressing the concerns of thousands of parents across the state. My fellow parents and I will be willing to travel to Albany to make this meeting as convenient as possible for everyone involved. Please call me directly at the number below to discuss this further.

Sincerely,

Eric Mihelbergel Parent Co-Founder NYS Allies for Public Education 716-553-1123

PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: November 6, 2013 More information contact: Eric Mihelbergel (716) 553-1123; nys.allies@gmail.com Lisa Rudley (917) 414-9190; nys.allies@gmail.com

Parents Request Formal Public Meeting With NYS Board of Regents On November 6, 2013, on behalf of fellow parent-leaders across the state, Eric Mihelbergel, parent and co-founder of NYS Allies for Public Education, respectfully and formally requested a public meeting with the Chancellor of the NYS Board of Regents, Merryl Tisch, and members of the Board of Regents to discuss the concerns of thousands of parents across the state related to excessive high-stakes standardized testing, sharing of personally identifiable private student data, and harmful effects of the Common Core standards. NYS Allies for Public Education consists of over 45 parent advocacy groups from across the state, many of which would be directly represented in a meeting of this type. In the letter to Chancellor Tisch, Mr. Mihelbergel says, We are simply a group of parents with diverse careers that have united to do what is best for our families. We have no agenda other than the well-being of our children. Education Commissioner John King has a history of not listening to parents, and at his recent public forums he continues to reveal that he will not take any action to accommodate what parents know is best for their own children. Parents of NYS are continuing to call for his resignation. Since the Education Commissioner is appointed by the Board of Regents, it follows that parents must seek direct contact with the Board of Regents in order to pursue positive change. When asked what he hopes to accomplish in a meeting with the Board of Regents, Mr. Mihelbergel referred to his letter to Chancellor Tisch in which he says, We are requesting that you and Board of Regents meet with me and fellow parent-leaders, in a public setting, for an open and transparent discussion and dialogue about what is best for our children. We understand that at present you do not agree with what parents want for their children. Our goal is that we can meet and have real discussion leading to real action that will best help our children in a way that is most meaningful for them and for the parents that raise them and pay tax dollars for their education. ###