Action Alert: Tell New York State Students Are More Than Test Scores

Action Alert: Tell New York State Students Are More Than Test Scores

March 20th Deadline

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is seeking input on how to measure school quality. LGBT parents and students know this means more than just test scores, and includes how safe and valued students feel in the classroom.

We need folks to take the NYSED Survey and on ITEMS #31 & #41 (on the second page), tell NYSED you strongly want SCHOOL CLIMATE as an indicator of school success. The quality of the climate may be the single most predictive factor in any school’s capacity to promote student achievement. 

Positive school climate, where students feel safe and valued, is connected to higher academic achievement, test-scores, graduation rates, and participation in school life, and lower truancy, bullying, and drop-out rates.  Positive school climate is essential for LGBT student success. 

If you aren't an informed educator or engaged parent, you can skip the other questions, but it is vital that they see our community cares not just about test scores but whole students as people.