THE SENATE

STATE OF NEW YORK

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT Senator, 55th District INTERNET ADDRESS:
obrien@nysenate ~ov
obrien.nysenate.gov
July 9, 2014
Commissioner John B. King, Jr.
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12234
Dear Commissioner King,
I am writing to call on you as Commissioner of the New York State Education Department to
release the standardized 3~ and 8~ grade Common Core tests that were administered earlier this year.
Educators and parents increasingly agree that we must get the Pearson company to eliminate the so-called
gag order from current and future testing contracts. New Yorks educators are demanding the
opportunity to review and discuss the tests, and use them to better assess student performance and make
improvements to next years lessons. Previously, New Yorks teachers had full and almost immediate
access to state assessments, and could use this information for planning purposes. Now, educators have
little voice in how the tests are created, and are forbidden from raising legitimate concerns about scope or
quality. True educational progress cannot occur if assessments are kept secret and teachers are denied the
ability to discuss and analyze them.
The lack of transparency surrounding these tests is fueling distrust and opposition. The teachers
and parents in my district share our goals of improving students performance, ensuring that all students
are reading at grade level and that all are college and career ready when they leave the school system. But
we cannot support the secrecy that keeps assessments from being properly analyzed to help achieve these
goals.
I thank you for your consideration and I look forward to your response.
Very truly yours,
Ted OBrien
New York State Senate
55th District