WE THE PARENTS AND TAXPAYERS OF NEW YORK demand an independent review of the PEARSON common core NY state exams.

Teacher reports have poured in from both 2014 as well as 2015 on the age inappropriate, erroneous material on these tests. Teachers are concerned and outraged. Children have been highly upset and anxious. This is not an acceptable method of data collection.

1.Lexile levels and math requiring higher level thinking were both grades above the capability and developmental appropriateness of the students. There were numerous correct answers, and too many, too lengthy questions. There were also noted mistakes.

2. In addition to age inappropriateness, and being far too long to be completed in the allotted time, the material was never taught. These tests were not aligned with the curriculum.

3. That our state puts so much weight on unassessed tests, especially in the face of the avalanche of concerns voiced by those who have seen the tests cannot be in the best interests of children.

4. Teachers are instructed not to look at the test. This level of stealth for a child's exam is unprecedented and highly alarming.

All other New York standardized tests are fully transparent, published in full online, with answer keys, EXCEPT FOR THE GRADES 3-8 COMMON CORE PEARSON TESTS.

TRANSPARENT: Grade 4 Science test Grade 8 Science test Grades 3-8 ELA tests, 2006-2010 Grades 3-8 math tests, 2006-2010 Every high school Regent exam

NOT TRANSPARENT: Grades 3-8 Common Core ELA tests, 2011-present Grades 3-8 Common Core math tests, 2011-present.

We have grave concerns that the data being generated with these tests is highly inaccurate and invalid.

We request both full transparency and an end to this secrecy as well as a full investigation completed by a team of educators and child development specialists. We do not want the Regents who have a track record of promoting such tests involved in this audit.

In addition, we are demanding access to independent HumRRO reports regarding Pearson tests.

Please be advised, NYSED was issued a FOIL dated 7/13/14 regarding:

"communications between NYSED and Pearson about the reliability and/or validity of the NY State Exams, and more specifically regarding any reports from 2012, 2013 & 2014 Human Resources Research Organization or HumRRO together with copies of each of these reports produced by HumRRO"

NYSED acknowledged that a request has been received on 7/21/14 and advised that the FOIL would be granted or denied by 8/18/14, but has failed to grant access as of the date of this writing thereby constructively denying the request.

An appeal was taken in accordance with §89(4)(a) on April 28, 2015 by the party requesting the records (Anna Shah).

We demand that NYSED release the HumRRO reports to the party requesting the records, in accordance with the presumption of access and obligations under the FOIA. "