“Too much of the current education policy making happens without any meaningful parent input, and often in complete opposition to parents’ priorities and concerns.” Parents Across America (PAA), a national network of public school parents from all backgrounds … Continue reading Parents Across America national survey shows parents disagree with lawmakers’ approach to education
Washington State Representative Santos was a primary sponsor for yet another nonsensical bill, House Bill 1121. From the Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA) Watch List, is the following description of the bill: Directs the partnership to work with … Continue reading House Representative Santos and “Personal Finance”: House Bill 1121
So far the 37th Democratic Legislative District unanimously passed a resolution opposing the bill that would allow the mayor to appoint two members to the school board. The 36th District also passed a similar resolution unanimously along with the 34th Democratic … Continue reading The 32nd, 34th, 36th and the 37th Democratic Legislative Districts passed resolutions opposing mayoral control
Apartheid (… an Afrikaans word meaning “the state of being apart”, literally “apart-hood”) was a system of racial segregation in South Africa enforced through legislation… I feel very strongly about this bill because my dad had no other choice … Continue reading House Bill 2048: Re-segregation through legislation
…and if you are a parent, teacher, student or concerned citizen in the great state of Washington, contact Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee’s ranking member Senator Patty Murray from Washington State (contact information below) and let her know … Continue reading If you are an educator, sign this open letter to Congress and the Obama administration about test-focused reforms by February 20, 2015
There is another whacked bill that was dropped last week by Representative Eric Pettigrew along with House Education Committee Chairperson Sharon Tomiko Santos. We’re still scratching our heads about Santos but…it’s usually about political stability (that of the politician) or money. … Continue reading Apartheid House Bill 1860: No one wants to split Seattle in two except for Reps. Santos, Pettigrew and oh yeah… Magendanz. Remember him?
The following was testimony given by Catherine Ahl, Education Chair for the League of Women Voters of Washington at the hearing for HB 1497 in front of the House Education Committee on Tuesday, February 3, 2015: Founded by activists … Continue reading League of Women Voters’ testimony on mayoral control House Bill 1497
The cities where our foundation has put the most money in is where there’s a single person responsible. In New York, Chicago and Washington, DC, the mayor has responsibility for the school system. So instead of having a committee … Continue reading House Rep. Eric Pettigrew, House Bill 1497, mayoral control and the money
It’s that time of year again, the week corporate reformers have designated as “School Choice Week.” Polls and surveys show that the first choice of most parents is to send their child to a high-quality neighborhood school with adequate resources. … Continue reading Parents Across America News: For “Choice Week,” choose to tell Congress what parents really want
“For the fourth year in a row, the state auditor’s office has slammed the Seattle’s Human Services Department over its management of grant funds.” I receive information, opinions and concerns from people around the country. Some people want to remain … Continue reading A letter from a concerned citizen about Proposition 1B and a City of Seattle Department of Education
In preparation for the Parents Across America Annual Meeting which will be held in DC next month, a list of priorities have been determined by the board and will be presented to our elected representatives when we meet with them in August. … Continue reading Parents Across America’s 2014 Priority Issues: Positive, progressive reforms that work
There is a bill titled “Success and Opportunity Through Charter Schools”, referred to as HR 10, to rewrite federal charter law that has strong backing by the House Education and the Workforce Committee’s Republican majority and is expected to easily pass out of the committee. The bill will be voted on in the House after the mid-April recess. The bill is basically a privatizers dream come true. It’s “Success and Opportunity” for all who want to get what they can from public school funds. Here are some of the highlights: According to the bill, our tax dollars would be used to “provide financial assistance for the … Continue reading Parents OPPOSE HR 10, the “Success and Opportunity Through Charter Schools” bill
