Pride. Power. Professionalism.

March 2022

Contact:

Victor Jordan | Political Action Committee Chair | vjord2016@gmail.com | (718) 679-1940

MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT

Educational Rights Transparency for New York Families Act

NYS Senate: S3889 (Bailey) | NYS Assembly: A5578 (Walker)

The Educational Rights Transparency Coalition appeals to all New York State residents to support S.3889/A.5578, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey and Assembly Member Latrice Walker, which would establish standards for resource-based educational rights of students within the state and implement a system of self-assessment and reporting by schools and school districts. The passage of this legislation, also known as the “Educational Rights Transparency for New York Families Act,” would help provide New York State families with critical information that they need to support and protect their children’s education.

The greatest stain on the social fabric of New York State is that the education system continues to provide some children with the opportunities they need in order to graduate “college, career, and civic ready” and fails to provide them to others, especially Black and Brown children whose families live in poverty.

The full implementation of Foundation Aid though essential and a great milestone—is inadequate to remedy that injustice. Hundreds of thousands of families have been left in the dark as to the specific educational opportunities that this funding is supposed to pay for as required by state education law. Information is power, but some communities and families have far less access to education-related information and the power it provides.

Examples of Resource-Related Educational Rights in New York State:

·Small-group or one-on-one tutoring to ensure all students are able to meet state learning standards in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies

·Nurses or other medical personnel

·Instructional technology, including computers and internet access

·School psychologists and social workers to provide counseling and other resources for students experiencing trauma

·School librarians—required at the middle and high school levels—to help students find, navigate, analyze, and apply the overwhelming (and often-conflicting) wealth of information available online

The passage of the Educational Rights Transparency for New York Families Act would help provide transparency for families in many ways. First, this legislation would require New York State’s Commissioner of Education to develop rules and regulations regarding a student’s resource-related education rights. These rights include, but are not limited to, an adequate number of qualified school personnel; sufficient and up-to-date curricula; and supports for students who are not meeting state learning standards.

Additionally, this legislation would require an inclusive, democratic system of accountability for the ongoing provision of educational resources—including meaningful collaboration among families, educators, and administrators. This legislation would also require annual reporting, which would help ensure full transparency by publicly tracking progress towards providing all the required educational opportunities.

Civil rights matter, and education is one of the most important civil-rights issues of our time. We must ensure that all families are fully aware of—and equipped to protect and advance—their children ’s educational rights under state law.

For more information, please contact Victor Jordan ABENY Inc Political Action Committee Chair, at vjord2016@gmail.com or 718.679.1940

Since its founding during the late 1960’s, the Association of Black Educators of New York, Inc. (ABENY) has organized to increase education equity, advocacy, and excellence for communities of educators and students across the African Diaspora.