UPDATE: Education Jobs bill passes the House
NYSUT News Wire - August10, 2010

House leaders today passed the Education Jobs bill by a vote of 247 to 161, with most Republicans voting no.

The bill now moves directly to President Obama, who has vowed to sign it immediately.

House roll call

New York is expected to net $608 million in funding - aid that could save the jobs of an estimated 7,100 educators slated for layoff this fall. NYSUT leaders are urging state lawmakers return to Albany and vote to expend the new federal funding. The union is also urging lawmakers to use the additional aid to restore funding to the state's network of teacher centers.

While the aid could restore more than 7,000 education jobs, the final tally of jobs saved will depend on schools using the funds to prevent layoffs.

Reps. Peter King (R-Long Island) and Chris Lee (R-Clarence), were the only members of the New York delegation to vote against the bill.

Grade 3-8 Math and English Test Results Released: Cut Scores Set to New College-Ready Proficiency Standards
NYSUT.org, July 28, 2010

Regents Chancellor Merryl H. Tisch and Education Commissioner David Steiner today released results from the state's 2010 Grade 3-8 assessments in Math and English. Cut scores for these tests were set according to new Proficiency standards redefined to align them with college-ready performance. The new Proficiency standards are based on a review of research that analyzed how the grade 3-8 state tests relate to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exam; how the state's eighth grade Math and English tests relate to the Regents exams; how performance on the Regents exams relates to SAT scores; and how performance on the Regents exams relates to first-year performance in college.

As a result of raising the bar for what it means to be proficient, many fewer students met or exceeded the new Mathematics and English Proficiency standards in 2010 than in previous years. Across Grades 3-8 statewide, the majority of students, 53% in English and 61% in Math, met or exceeded the new Proficiency standards this year. By contrast, in 2009, 77% of students met or exceeded standards in English and 86% of students did so in Math.

Health Care Reform Summary
From: AFT Retiree e-news (April 1, 2010)

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