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Receivership: Union battle & Common Core assessments

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As receivership plans for 15-of Buffalo's most struggling public schools could mean changes to the school day, the teachers union is planning to fight the new rule. WBFO's Focus on Education Reporter Eileen Buckley says one city school teacher calls receivership 'union busting'.  

"They want to divide and conquer the unions, not just Buffalo, but across the state," said Mel Holden, Teacher at City Honors and Buffalo school parent.  

Holden tells WBFO News schools should be a stable place that families can rely on for their children to attend. Holden said she believes receivership will only destabilize troubled city schools, fearing they could be turned into charter schools that are not always a success. 

"It doesn't have the best interest of communities and children in mind. In addition creating this whole union busting. It's nothing  good for teachers, nothing good for the students, nothing good for the parents," responded Holden.

The Common Core assessments also come into play in receivership. Buffalo Parent Teacher Organization Co-chair Larry Scott said both the State Education Department and Common Core Task Force have 'flubbed' the receivership process.

"And the big question remains, because these schools placed in receivership -- it was done primary with the use of state assessments -- the question remains then if they are invalid for teacher and for students they should also be invalid for determining categorizations for schools such as receivership," stated Scott in a recent WBFO News interview.

Buffalo Teacher Federation President Phil Rumore said when the union files a lawsuit against receivership it will  include Common Core assessments. Rumore also pointed out those city schools placed on the receivership list were based on the Common Core testing, which is now deemed flawed under the task force recommendations.

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