In Case You Missed It: Double arbitration on teacher evals and closing schools; Stringer says test the tests; Countering StudentsFirst

Here on EdVox we’re excited to bring you the latest news about education issues and policies affecting our communities. It can be hard to keep up with all of the events and happenings, so – in case you missed it… Here is a recap of the latest stories in NYC education news, starting with the oldest:

MONDAY

• The State’s labor board ruled to force the City into mediation talks with UFT over teacher evaluations, siding with the union: http://gothamschools.org/2012/05/14/in-two-separate-rulings-states-labor-board-sides-with-the-uft/

TUESDAY

• Manhattan Borough President Stringer wrote State Chancellor Tisch, calling on the State Education Department to suspend plans to rate teachers based on this year’s standardized exams, and to have an independent panel review the exams themselves following news that the tests included more than two dozen errors: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan-borough-president-scott-stringer-asks-state-shelve-teacher-ratings-test-mess-article-1.1078301
• Educators and parents are asking the CIty to slow planned special ed reforms: http://gothamschools.org/2012/05/15/special-ed-caution-urged-as-personnel-funding-changes-loom/

WEDNESDAY

• The Wall Street Journal examined national backlash against standardized testing as school systems use the exams to make more and more decisions: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303505504577406603829668714.html
• The City and educators’ unions agreed to use an arbitrator to decide whether or not the recent decision to close 24 schools violated union contracts, following a judge’s suggestion after she declined to block the City from hiring new staff for the new schools planned to replace those that are closing: http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2012/05/16/judge-declines-to-issue-injunction-on-hiring-for-24-schools/?partner=rss&emc=rss
• The State set target formulas for the number of high-needs students charter schools will need to include in their populations: http://gothamschools.org/2012/05/16/high-needs-enrollment-targets-could-challenge-some-charters/

THURSDAY

• Chancellor Walcott announced that the DOE would move to fire teachers who received unsatisfactory ratings two years in a row and offer buyouts to teachers who have been without a permanent position for more than a year; UFT President Mulgrew pointed out that the City has always had that power in response: http://gothamschools.org/2012/05/17/in-lieu-of-new-evaluations-city-looks-to-options-in-union-contract/
• Many of the City and State’s largest unions and community organizations announced they had formed a pro-public education group to match the business-backed “reform” group StudentsFirstNY, which announced it would spend $5 million next year to elect a new mayor that would carry on Bloomberg’s education policies: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/18/nyregion/new-coalition-will-challenge-bloombergs-education-policies.html

FRIDAY

• The City and educators’ unions agreed on an arbitrator to determine whether or not the City can close 24 schools; and the City will begin hiring for the schools to replace them pending the outcome: http://gothamschools.org/2012/05/18/turnaround-hiring-to-resume-but-decisions-could-be-reversed/