Kindergarten 1-to-1 device
I posted previously about opting out of iReady and the classroom iPad. I wanted to provide an update for any parents that were interested or felt the same way I do. I emailed my CEC council president. he said parents can always opt out of state and local screeners/assessments but the 1-to-1 device has to be negotiated through the school. I spoke with the school leadership team and principal. principal tried to say I ready is mandated by the city, it’s not the city mandates periodic assessments not “iready minutes” there are districts in NYC that don’t even use iReady. she did not address any of my concerns on data privacy only said it’s not how they get their “main instruction.”
she said the device is integrated into the daily curriculum. i mentioned NSUT teachers union resolution calling to get rid of 1-to-1 devices before grade 2 and CEC resolutions in other districts calling on NYCPS to do the same. she said ”we don’t operate on what other districts do and there’s been no policy change.” which wasn’t even my point of bringing it up, I was saying it’s not an absurd request for a parent to make. they were very unwilling to work with me. I contacted a charter school to ask their policy and they told me they don’t allow you to opt out of 1-to-1 device either unless it’s for disciplinary purposes (child misusing it).
i will be home schooling for kindergarten this year and am considering private school for higher grades. I’m still in contact with my CEC President and plan on making comments at the next meeting. I never imagined not putting my kids in public school but this has been so disappointing. if you have the same concerns even if your kids aren’t school age yet you should contact your CEC councils and speak at the meetings and make public comment at the PEP meetings. the homeschool population in NYC has grown which only hurts funding for public schools and I know more parents have went private because of this too.