FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 28, 2014

More Information Contact:

Marla Kilfoyle, General Manager, BATs

Melissa Tomlinson, Asst. General Manager, BATs

contact.batmanager@gmail.com

After polling its membership, The New York Badass Teachers Association announced today its endorsement of Zephyr Teachout and Timothy Wu for the Democratic Primary to be held on September 9th. The New York BATs are an organization over 2000 strong which supports candidates committed to defending and preserving public education.

This decision was made because of deep discontent with the current New York Governor. Andrew Cuomo has earned an appalling reputation for ramming anti-public school legislation through the legislature, including the unpopular Common Core Standards, requirements that all teachers in the state be rated on the basis of student test scores, and laws that favor charter schools at the expense of public schools. Perhaps most egregious were the Common Core aligned tests for the 2013/2014 school year resulting in 70 percent of children being classified “failures” with the state’s ELL and Special Needs students subjected to unconscionable humiliation.

By contrast, the Teachout/Wu Platform opposes the over-reliance on standardized testing, Common Core, charter school expansion and John King while supporting teacher tenure, the arts and local autonomy. "For me, education is key," said Teachout who contends New York must return to "traditional Democrats” such as President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

“New York needs a true Progressive voice to counter the damage that is being done to public education in New York state in the name of so-called reform. Andrew Cuomo is the poster child for that damage. Zephyr Teachout is the cure”, says New York BAT Steve Corso.

New York BAT Ann MacAbee stated, "Teachout/Wu offer real hope for the proper education of New York's children."

NY BAT Jake Jacobs adds “the policy of evaluating Art teachers using student scores on state Math exams is a waste of taxpayer dollars that shows little appreciation for what goes on in the classroom. Zephyr Teachout understands the key to learning is engagement, trusting the teachers who know their students best”.

The Teachout/Wu campaign offers a platform to parents and teachers that puts children, equity, and equality in education ahead of big business and hedge funders. If you are a Democrat, we heartily recommend a vote for Teachout/Wu on September 9th and hope you encourage your Democratic friends and family to do the same.

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