According to numbers compiled by Newsday, more than 50 percent of eligible students in Long Island districts for which statistics were available refused the state math test that began yesterday. This totals nearly 80,000 Long Island students in grades 3-8.

"Parents are once again expressing their frustration with the current state testing program and by doing so, their lack of faith in these tests and many of the so-called reforms of recent years,” said Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square). “It will take bold action both by the Legislature and the state Board of Regents to restore this faith, not small tweaks and half-measures. We should start with overhauling our teacher evaluation system to utilize true measures of instruction and learning, such as portfolio-based measures which are currently prohibited by statute. Only through a full repeal of this law can we return control to our local districts to adopt plans which will best meet the needs of their students."

Ra has introduced A.4016, which would repeal the current evaluation law and empower the Board of Regents to convene a panel of stakeholders to create a new teacher evaluation program.

"Parents are sending a clear message: they want action, and with just over 6 weeks remaining in the 2017 Legislative Session, the time for that action is now"