ICE PAC

MIDDLE SCHOOL FAMILIES: STATE TESTS ARE COMING!
The New York State math and ELA tests are coming up in less than a month. Schools are required to give them, but your child is not required to take them. Last year, 90% of ICE families refused (aka "opted out" of)  the tests for their children. If you would like to refuse for your 6th, 7th, or 8th grader, please fill out this form. ICE PAC parents* will distribute more info re middle school grade reps in coming weeks, but in the meantime, if you are curious about the opt out movement, check out optoutnyc.com or NYC Opt Out on Facebook. 

*This is a parent initiative, not official school policy.

ATTEND A HEARING ON REGENTS EXAMS
As one of only about only 40 schools in the state that have a waiver from the Regents exams (except ELA), we here at ICE are outliers.The Board of Regents (the body that governs education policy in NY State) is conducting a review of the exams and their role as gatekeepers for high school graduation. Please consider attending one of the meetings that the BOR is hosting around the city to discuss this very important issue. This blog post has a link to a list of meeting dates and locations, as well as a fact sheet, prepared by New York State Allies for Public Education, that makes a compelling case for why exit exams are damaging.