A second August meeting of the Panel for Educational Policy was attended by angry parents last night, who challenged the Department of Education over the results of the 2010 state standardized reading and math tests.  After the state raised the passing scores this year, far fewer students achieved "proficiency."

A NY1 story by Lindsey Christ, reported that 40 parents who signed up to comment, protested that the DOE had not adequately explained the reasons for the lower test scores, had  "lied" to them, and kept parents out of the loop.

For its part, DOE officials said that although proficiency levels dropped after the passing standards were changed, students have still made progress.

According to NY1, fewer than half of the panel members were present at the meeting, which was scheduled after the regular August meeting was cut short by parents seeking an explanation for the test scores.  Midway through last night's meeting, parents "shouted over" DOE officials, "turned their backs  to the stage" and walked out. See the NY 1 storyhere.

PEP meeting Aug. 31

Tonight Today,  Aug. 31, the panel will meet again -- this time to reconvene its regularly scheduled August meeting about DOE contracts and budget.

CEJ test score meetings Sept. 1 & Sept. 2

On Sept. 1, the NYC Coalition for Educational Justice, an advocacy group, invites interested parents and community members to help plan a response to the 2010 test scores. A meeting is scheduled for 3-5 p.m. at 74 Trinity Place, 2nd floor. See our calendar for details.

Update Sept. 1: A second meeting has been set for the following evening. The  CEJ invites parents to a planning meeting, from 6-7:30 p.m. at 74 Trinity Place.  This meeting is open to all parents to want to help set a "back to school action plan" in response to the test scores.

Are you attending any of the meetings? Please share your thoughts below.