This week, I joined a WMHT panel discussion with educators, parents, and community members around the education and race themes presented in American Promise. The program airs as part of WMHT's "New York Now," on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 11 p.m.

Call to delay Common Core: I continue to raise the serious concerns of students, parents, and educators regarding the over-testing of students and the flawed implementation of the Common Core standards and teacher evaluations. I appreciate and support the Assembly and Senate’s call for a two-year delay of both high stakes testing and sharing of student data with third-party vendors. This is some of the best education news in months, given the multitude of concerns raised and the urgent need for remedies. I welcome and am anxious to hear the response of the State Board of Regents to these recommendations when they meet on Monday.

Forum on Special Needs in Education on Tuesday: Please join us for a forum to hear from panelists on the Regents Reform Agenda on Tuesday, Feb. 11 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Farnsworth Middle School in Guilderland. The panel will address the unique challenges faced by students with special needs and how increased assessments associated with the Common Core curriculum have exacerbated those challenges.

Events in and around the 109th:

+ The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation will be holding a public hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. about the permit plans for Global Partners facility to heat and transport crude oil in Albany. The hearing will be atGiffen Elementary School (274 South Pearl Street) in Albany.

+ Check out the 10th Annual Africana Film Series at Albany College of Pharmacy. Films are at 7 p.m. in Room 202 of the Student Center on Tuesday, Feb. 11 and Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Job Opportunities: I’ve set up a page on my Assembly website for job announcements and listings that we’ll update periodically. If you know of any job listings, send my office a note.

Capital District Assembly Update: Tune in every Tuesday at 5 p.m. on Channel 17 (for Time Warner Cable subscribers) for the next episode of Capital District Assembly Update, co-hosted by Assemblymember McDonald and me. You can also previous episodes and clips on my Assembly website.

As always, for the latest about my office’s happenings or for upcoming events, please visit my office online, on Facebook, on Twitter, or my Times Union blog. If you would like to reach my office, please feel free to send us a note.

Sincerely ---

Pat