Grassroots Education Network- June 2021 Newsletter
The NPE Grassroots Education Network is a network of 170 grassroots organizations nationwide who have joined together to preserve, promote, improve, and strengthen our public schools. If you know of a group that would like to join this powerful network, please go here to sign on.
If you have any questions about the NPE Grassroots Education Network please contact Marla Kilfoyle, NPE Grassroots Education Network Liaison at marlakilfoyle@networkforpubliceducation.org
NPE Action/NPE Conference will be live in Philadelphia! See you October 23 and 24.
We are so delighted that at last we will hold our conference in Philadelphia that was delayed due to the pandemic. If you registered and did not request a refund, you are still registered. If you would like to register, you can do so here.
In either case, be sure to reserve your hotel room at the discounted rate of $169 for Friday and Saturday night. Don’t wait. Rooms are going fast.
Notes from Marla
Bloggers throughout the years have been shedding light on what has been happening in the struggle to preserve public education. NPE started Blogs of the Day this year. It is curated by Peter Greene and features powerful stories by bloggers from across the nation. The blogging network we are all familiar with has inspired, informed, and educated the country on the national fight to preserve, and save, public education. If you don’t have a blog for your organization, please encourage your members and followers to subscribe to the NPE Blogs of the Day.
Prior to ending what was an unprecedented school year, many organizations in the network worked hard to stop the testing of children. Many organizations felt that to test children in the midst of a raging pandemic was both educational malpractice and abusive. The Test and The Art of Thinking is a timely, eye-opening film about the use and misuses of standardized testing in America, and its impact on education and equity in the bigger picture. After a year of monumental change in education, you can now book a screening of the film today to help your team, or wider community, examine the debate around testing and reimagine the future of our schools. Virtual or in-person, this is a great way to team build internally, mobilize your network, amplify your work alongside these issues, or even fundraise – as the filmmakers will offer a way for nonprofit hosts to raise money through their platform during this critical time. Learn more and request a screening here or you can reach out to thetest@canobiefilms.org.
National Organizing
Network for Public Education Executive Director Carol Burris and NPE Communications Director Darcie Cimarusti researched the funding of white-flight academies in North Carolina that used the federal charter schools program financing. Go here to read that report. Defending the Early Years co-director Dr. Denisha Jones was interviewed by KinderKiosk this month about the book Black Lives Matter in School. In the Public Interest’s Jeremy Mohler’s new article Investing in Schools Builds Community is a powerful piece that needs to be shared! The Journey for Justice Alliance and coalition’s press release on the concession school board bill was released this month. The Schott Foundation Justice is the Foundation: New Data on Racial Equity and Racial Justice Funding in Education Philanthropy was also released this month. Fairtest wrote on their Facebook page that at the end of May, we entered into the final days for state legislative sessions and the peak of school testing season in many jurisdictions. Frustration and anxiety abound, along with a few more assessment reform victories. Please continue sending testing policy updates to fairtest@fairtest.org so that they can share them nationally.
The editors of Rethinking Schools wrote this month that “right wing legislators are trying to stop us from teaching for racial justice. WE REFUSE!” Rethinking Schools and Bargaining for the Common Good hosted a discussion on building power through labor and community partnerships this month. To view that discussion go here. The Parent Coalition for Student Privacy launched a privacy alert this month for New York. The coalition is asking New Yorkers to send a letter to NY legislators to oppose a new bill that would create a special loophole to allow College Board and ACT to sell personal student data. The data they plan to sell would include student test scores! Parents for Public Schools monthly Kindergarten Readiness calendar is an amazing resource for any Kindergarten parent. Parents Across America has a public Facebook page that is great for interacting with others from across the nation about public education issues. Go here to join in the conversation.
The Badass Teachers Association (BATs) Voices On the Air, which is aired on The Rick Smith Show, is a monthly program that hosts powerful voices for education. Go here for updates on shows and archives. Trinational Coalition to Defend Public Education (USA) has a public Facebook group that features information from Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. about how communities are navigating the worldwide COVID crisis. The Ontario (Canada) Secondary School Teachers Federation asked Ontario teachers to take action and support the Initiative for Democratic Education in the Americas (IDEA) campaign against educational inequality. Wear Red for Ed has an active open Facebook page that tracks the Red for Ed movement nationwide. Uniting to Save Our Schools (USOS) members took part in a discussion centered around the idea of educators being in charge of the world. View this discussion on The Tom Ficklin Show. First Focus Campaign for Children hosted a Meet the Policy Team event late last month. Kinderchat continues to host its popular Twitter chat every Monday at 9 PM EST. The chats are informative and provide great resources for teaching kindergartners. Check them out on Twitter at #Kinderchat. Kinderchat also has a fantastic website full of resources. Instituto Nueva Escuela kicked off their Conservatory Thursday this month. Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood announced this month that they will be going by a new name. That new name will be Fairplay.
Equal Opportunity Schools is seeking a Partnership Director who provides equity guidance, trains clients on the use of their tools, facilitates discussions, and leads partners through implementation of the EOS Action for Equity model. See full posting for additional responsibilities. When Public Schools Reopen held an action this month to end PreK-2 grade suspensions in NC. Uniting for Children and Youth (Canada) are concerned citizens of Ottawa-Outaouais. Their mission is to build awareness of how we can make life better for children and youth. Head over to their open Facebook page to keep up with news, and events, from Canada. National Educators United held an event this month on pandemic organizing and how teachers can organize for next school year. We will have that archived video in our next newsletter.
State Organizing
Please use this clearinghouse of information to inform people in the various states about the NPE Grassroots Education Network organizations. Please encourage people to join them and support their work! Call on family, friends, and colleagues to join the fight to save public education. This section is also a place to get great ideas on organizing and actions.
Alabama
SOS (Support our Students) keeps Alabama up-to-date on what is happening with the corporate education reform movement. Go here to subscribe and to keep updated.
Arkansas
Grassroots Arkansas took part in commemorating the Tulsa Race Massacre late this month by posting an online vigil by the Arkansas Peace and Justice Memorial movement.
Arizona
Voices for Education announced that the University of Arizona Education Policy Center (EPC) is currently conducting an additional anonymous survey to better understand the implementation and impact of remote learning, and the transition back into in-person learning, in the state of Arizona. EPC is asking public school teachers to fill out the survey. If you are a current public school teacher in Arizona, please take a few minutes to fill out the survey. Arizonans for Charter School Accountability responded to journalist Robert Robb who wrote an article claiming school choice helps students. Save Our Schools Arizona went to the state capitol this month to push state lawmakers to fund Arizona schools. Here are some pictures from that day. Head over to Arizona Educators United Twitter feed to see the powerful campaign they did on the Flat Tax proposal.
California
California Educators United is a rank and file-led network of educators and supporters of public education. They are part of the movement for racial equity and social justice, fully funded public education through progressive taxation, and pro-public education and anti-privatization. To follow their movements, go here. The Public Core program, Between Two Teachers, is informative. To view all their archived programs, go here. The Association of RAZA Educators will be holding their 6th Annual Praxis Institute: Radical Hope, Healing & Humanization this month. Bay Area Collective Keeping Privatizers Away from Community Schools (BACKPACS) is an organization dedicated to strengthening and protecting public education in the Bay Area. Go here to follow what they are working on. Educators for Democratic Schools-Oakland open Facebook page reports all that is happening in the Oakland Unified School District. Parents Supporting Teachers joined the network this month. They organize in a closed Facebook group of over 25,000 members. You can follow them on Twitter here. They give live updates on LAUSD Board meetings. Go here for the latest.
Colorado
Pueblo Education Coalition’s goal is to represent educators, parents, community members, students, and all stakeholders towards positive change for Pueblo’s public education. To keep up with their movements, go here. Taxpayers for Public Education launched a petition this month to keep vouchers out of Colorado.
Connecticut
Connecticut Public Schools Advocates Children are Connecticut families and educators advocating for safe, equitable, fully funded public schools. Please follow their activity here. Children Are More Than Test Scores have conducted live readings of various books for children through the pandemic. There were a few readings this month. Head over to their open Facebook group to listen and share. Re: public Ed informs Connecticut residents about the state, local, and federal education policies that impact teaching and learning. New London Parent Advocates updates their open Facebook page weekly with all that is happening in the New London Public Schools.
Florida
Fund Education NOW co-founder Kathleen Oropeza has an opinion column in the Orlando Sentinel 100 each Sunday. Go here to read her latest. Florida BATs and Broward BATs continue to inform the public about all that is happening with Florida education. Go here and here for updates. Pastors for Florida Children posted a story late last month about public input to the Florida teaching standards. Go here for the schedule of forums. Florida Council of Churches offered an online prayer for the teaching of Black and Native American history. Opt-Out Florida Network pocket opt-out guide is a great tool to have for the 2021/2022 school year. Pinellas Parents Advocating for School Improvements organizes on a private Facebook page. If you know of anyone in the Pinellas area, have them join to connect. Protect Our Public Schools, Manasota believes that free, quality public education is a right for all children and is necessary for the optimal functioning of a democratic society. To keep up with their movements during the COVID-19 crisis, go here. Miami-Dade County Public School District Parents shared information about a mobile unit in Miami-Dade that will come to locations to vaccinate children who are eligible. UnitED for Florida Children are parents, teachers, students, school administrators, school board members, and superintendents across the state who are unhappy with what is happening in Florida’s public school classrooms. Education reform efforts led by politicians have changed the learning environment, removing autonomy, flexibility, and creativity and replacing it with poorly implemented and untested standards and high stakes tests. To connect with this amazing Florida group, go here. Hillsborough Public School Advocates are based out of Tampa. They organize out of a private Facebook group of over 4000 members. Currently they are fighting off charter expansion in their district. We will have an update in our next newsletter. For an update, read this article about the intrusion of the State Education Commissioner in a decision made by the Hillsborough Board of Education not to renew charters.
Georgia
If you live in Georgia or know someone who does, make sure they connect with Public Education Matters Georgia. Moms and Dads Now Enduring Surrealistic Stupidity (MADNESS) has a vibrant public Facebook group that discusses how education in Georgia is going during the COVID crisis. If you are interested, here is the link to that public group. Opt-Out Georgia organized the opt-out movement in Georgia via a closed Facebook group of over 8,000 members. If you live in Georgia or know someone who does, encourage them to connect with this group. The Georgia Chapter of the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME) was founded in 1990 to bring together individuals from all academic levels and disciplines and from diverse educational institutions and other organizations, occupations, and communities who had an interest in multicultural education. NAME is committed to a philosophy of inclusion that embraces the basic tenets of democracy and cultural pluralism. To keep up with their movements, visit their website.
Hawaii
Parents for Public Schools Hawaii announced that Hawaii schools will reopen on August 3rd. Also, PPSH is asking community members to offer feedback on how Hawaii will spend American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funds.
Illinois
Illinois Raise Your Hand has been working hard this month on the elected representative school board issue. Here is their joint statement with grassroots community organizations regarding an elected school board in Chicago. RYH has also hosted two information sessions for parents on Universal Enrichment Remedies (UER) & Student Specific Corrective Action (SSCA) with Equip for Equality. All resources and videos of the sessions are linked here and in English and Spanish. Illinois Families for Public Schools advocacy to get a recess bill was successful this month! The Illinois General Assembly passed a landmark recess bill this month protecting kids’ right to play. Illinois Families for Public Schools’ advocacy succeeds with one of the strongest bills in the U.S. Congratulations!
Indiana
The Indiana Coalition for Public Education hosted a Zoom discussion with authors of Wolf At The Schoolhouse Door Jack Schneider and Jennifer Berkshire. Indiana Coalition for Public Schools – Monroe County noted that the percentage of kids taking ILEARN this past year was higher than past years. About 97% of eligible kids took the test. The Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education helped to expose the fact that RiseIndy is NOT a grassroots parent group in Indiana. Northwest Indiana Coalition for Public Education advocates for a high quality and equitable public education for every child in NWI. To keep up with the issues they are working on, go here. Washington Township Parent Council Network posted the free meals schedule for summer on their Facebook page.
Iowa
Iowans for Public Education posted a very informative article that summarized education bills passed by Iowa lawmakers in 2021.
Kansas
Governor Kelly specifically referred to the work of education advocates, and Game on for Kansas Schools Judith Deedy. Judith was invited to stand with the Governor for the actual signing of an education funding bill. Game on for Kansas Schools thanks Governor Kelly and the legislators from both parties for maintaining their promise to fund Iowa public schools and to advocates around the state for their efforts.
Kentucky
Dear JCPS are asking current or former JCPS employees to email them if they were fired for calling out implicit bias or racism. Please email them at moderator@dearjcps.com to anonymously share your story. Kentucky SOS is a grassroots stakeholder advocacy group dedicated to raising awareness of impending actions and legislation that could impact Kentucky public schools. They are building a unified front to protect Kentucky public schools from attacks by privatizers and billionaires. Pastors for Kentucky Children offered this statement of reflection in May that is worth a second post in our newsletter- “The community that occurs in public schools gives us a glimpse of the kingdom of God. Lifting others up, embracing all God’s children and loving our neighbors happens every day in public schools across our nation!”
Louisiana
With the living wage ordinance $15 hearing this month, Step Up Louisiana took a walk down memory lane with the big moments in their 8-year campaign for $15 in New Orleans. They started with last summer and the incredible City Waste Union strike.
Maryland
The Baltimore Algebra Project worked hard over the last few months to educate the public on school safety and how it would impact the community.
Massachusetts
Citizens for Public Schools final installment of MCAS stories this month are from 10th grade students in Worcester geometry teacher Sarah Cramer’s class. The New Bedford Coalition to Save our Schools introduced their new mission film on YouTube this month.
Michigan
The Michigan Network for Equity in Education advocates for equitable, democratic public education in the state of Michigan by building coalitions and sharing information and research. To learn more about their work, go here. Save Michigan’s Public Schools shared that the Michigan Board of Education voted this month to FOIA charter school data to assess standards of financial transparency. Michigan Parents for Schools has an extensive website to help Michigan parents and educators. Be sure to check it out here. MI Ed Justice hosted a webinar this month called Refuse Standardized Testing in a Pandemic. Trusted Voices ED is a nonpartisan advocacy organization focused on informing stakeholders about current education policy as well as building collaborative relationships with policymakers to ensure every student receives the highest quality of education. Head over to the open Facebook page to discuss the issues on education and policy.
Minnesota
Parents for St. Paul Schools is a grassroots organization started by parents of public school students. They are in favor of an immediate moratorium on the expansion and creation of existing charter schools in St. Paul.. To keep up with their work, go here. Minnesota Collective for Educational Equity’s white paper, Pursuing Educational Equity in Minnesota Through a Statewide Multi-Tiered System of Support, is a must-read and share for anyone living, or teaching, in Michigan.
Mississippi
Parents for Public Schools – Moss Point supports their community with information about education, meals, vaccinations, and much more. Parents For Public Schools of Greenwood and Leflore County is still hosting Early Childhood Development programs for their community. They have been doing this since March. For more information on their programs, go here. Parents For Public Schools of Philadelphia advocates for children and schools in the Philadelphia Public School District. Make sure you give them a follow on Facebook. Parents For Public Schools of Starkville is a local organization working to strengthen public schools in Starkville. They promote the great work being done in the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District.
Missouri
Keep up with the Missouri BATs by giving them a follow on Twitter. Columbia Parents for Public Schools promotes parent engagement to improve education and build public support for public schools in Columbia.
Nebraska
Stand for Schools requested that Nebraska citizens take action this month. The Nebraska Department of Education is considering new accreditation rules that would only require school systems to employ one half-time certified school librarian per district, no matter its size. To put that in perspective: Under the existing rule, Lincoln Public Schools currently employs more than 60 school librarians who help around 40,000 students. To take action and learn more go here. Students adapted to new styles of learning, new ways to connect with friends and families, and so much more when they were thrust into this COVID world. We are inspired by their tenacity. Watch their stories on Nebraska Loves Public Schools website.
Nevada
Educate Nevada NOW Executive Director Amanda Morgan appeared on News 3 LV discussing how the mining tax bill passed in Carson City will put millions in NV K-12 public education, $170 million every 2 yrs. Northern Nevada Parents and Teachers United was created in 2021 as a response to the growing frustration of parents and teachers about the state of Nevada’s schools. They believe that parents and teachers both want what is best for children, and our schools will only get better when those who work in them are valued and respected. To learn more about their work visit their website.
New Hampshire
Barrington Educators Association is the local chapter of the New Hampshire-NEA. You can view updated work here. To contact them about issues happening in NH, go here.
New Jersey
Save our Schools NJ hosted the New York Performance Standards Consortium this month on their Facebook live platform. The discussion with students, teachers, and administrators about holistic alternatives to standardized testing and how they inform instruction and learning was powerful. Be sure to check out The Newark Students Union events tab on their Facebook page. The posted events provide an excellent template for student organizing. The Delran Education Association is a local organization committed to ensuring excellence in public education. Give them a follow on Facebook. If you are a resident of Elizabeth, ask to join the Elizabeth Parents and Students Care closed Facebook group to connect. Give Montclair Cares About Schools a follow on Facebook to find out what is happening in Montclair education. Give Our Children Our Schools a follow on Twitter to keep up with any future events. South Orange-Maplewood Cares About Schools organizes in its closed Facebook group. If you live in this area or know anyone who does, please join the group here. Rosie Grant, Executive Director of Paterson Education Fund appeared on the Steve Adubato Show NJ PBS this month.
New York
Class Size Matters published a video this month that elevated the voices of teachers, students and parents explaining how class size has a profound impact on learning and the quality of education. The video also highlighted that class size is especially needed for disadvantaged and high needs students, and that for the sake of true equity, class sizes should be reduced in NYC and nationwide. Follow New York Allies for Public Education on their website for opt-out numbers in New York at the end of the pandemic school year. LI Opt-Out had a busy school year trying to help parents navigate the pandemic. To keep up with all they are doing be sure to visit their public Facebook page. NYC Opt Out has a vibrant public Facebook page that is keeping up with all the information on the NYC Mayor’s race. Go here to view that page. The Alliance for Quality Education is working hard this month for child care subsidies to needy families and passing the Transform NY Child Care bill package. Give Change the Stakes a follow on Facebook to keep up with what is happening in NYC education during the COVID crisis. NY BATs is the largest state chapter of the Badass Teachers Association, currently over 3,400 educators strong. Head over to their Facebook page to find out what they are working on. FUSE (New Rochelle Federation of United School Employees) celebrated the election of retired FUSE member Margaret Bavosa to the New Rochelle Board of Education. MORE-UFT will be holding their summer convention July 28-31. Go here for more information. Jackson Heights People for Public Schools has so much information on their discussion Facebook page that you need to head over to see what the community of Jackson Heights is up to. From assisting families in IS 145Q who were impacted by a horrible building fire to opting out of testing. Check it out here. Parents for Public Schools- Syracuse Fireside Chat Friday this month was a discussion with education advocate Talina Jones about how the Syracuse City School District needs to evolve. Croton Advocates for Public Education (CAPE) advocates for fair assessments, enrichment opportunities, and funding for their schools. The Port Washington Advocates for Public Education closed Facebook group is a place to connect and organize if you live in Port Washington, NY. North Country Alliance For Public Education works to end the reliance on high-stakes testing and stop the privatization taking over their schools. If you live in the North Country of New York, consider joining their closed Facebook group to connect. Visit the Rochester Coalition for Public Education website for all that is happening with Rochester education, meeting schedules, and information.
North Carolina
Public Schools First NC and Wake County are also on Instagram. Check out their Instagram page here. North Carolina Families for School Testing Reform celebrated the removal of Istation from their state assessment tools. Neighbors for Better Neighborhoods Organizers Circle this month focused on the election process. Pastors for North Carolina Children monthly newsletter highlights the work of the ministry leader gatherings on public education. Parents for Public Schools of Pitt County have launched their summer reading program. Thank you to all of the North Carolina groups that signed on to our letter to Secretary Cardona asking that he review the North Carolina CSP grant.
Ohio
Be sure to keep up with the Ohio BATs on their open Facebook page. It Takes A Village To Tackle HB70, and It Takes A Village celebrated the work to reform the state report card but noted there is still work to be done. Northwest Ohio Friends of Public Education is a citizen-driven, non-partisan movement to inform and engage Northwest Ohioans, at the community level, to support and strengthen public schools. To keep up with the issues they are working on, go here. Parents For Public Schools of Greater Cincinnati post upcoming events on their open Facebook page. Northeast Ohio Friends of Public Education have an open Facebook page you can follow for news that is happening in northeast Ohio education. The State BOE of Ohio’s groundbreaking Equity Resolution has been the target of censors of truth, so Public Education Partners (PEP) sent a letter supporting the resolution.
Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Parent Legislative Action Committee continues to share information about the Epic charter scandal. Pastors for Oklahoma Children posted a powerful quote by Rev. E. D. Cameron, Oklahoma’s first State Superintendent of Schools on their Facebook page. Oklahoma Parents and Educators for Public Education/Oklahomans for Public Education have a private Facebook group of over 31,000 people. If you live in Oklahoma or know someone who does, share this link to connect. Oklahoma Teachers – The Time Is Now organizes in a private Facebook group of over 64,000 members. The purpose of the group is to unite all educators in Oklahoma to come together and educate, collaborate, and discuss what options they have moving forward to improve Public Education. If you know any Oklahoma educators, send them to this group to connect.
Oregon
Community Alliance for Public Education (CAPE) are urging community members to contact school board members about the superintendent selection in Eugene. Oregon Save Our Schools shared the news that Oregon is considering a suspension of testing requirements for graduation. Oregon BATs organizes in a closed Facebook group. If you are an Oregon teacher or community member, ask to join and connect.
Pennsylvania
The Keystone State Education Coalition publishes a daily PA education policy roundup. Pennsylvania School Board Association VideoEDition this month covers how school districts are reimbursed for transportation of pupils to and from school and the Charter Reform Virtual Rally. The Pittsburgh Task Force on the Right to Education let their community know that if they need assistance over the summer LTF is still available so reach out via the information posted here. Education Voters PA issued an alert this month to stop Harrisburg from taking hundreds of millions of dollars from public school students. Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools wrote an essay this month about how the Philadelphia Board should not renew substandard charters. Teacher Action Group Wilmington is a member of the Network of Teacher Activist Groups, a national coalition of grassroots teacher organizing groups. They work together to build an education movement for liberation, locally and nationally, through shared analysis, political education, mutual support and learning, and joint projects. If you know anyone in the Bethlehem Area School District, be sure to contact the BASD (Bethlehem Area School District) Parents. They are a fantastic group fighting for children and public schools in the area. Here they post information for parents about a webinar that will address education beyond COVID.
Rhode Island
The Providence Student Union has joined the Providence Alliance for Student Safety in calling for Police Free Schools. Go here to learn more. To keep up with what is happening in Rhode Island, give the Parents Across Rhode Island Facebook page a follow.
South Carolina
Quality Education Project’s are encouraging South Carolina citizens to attend a local forum to discuss how federal funds will be spent to advance equity in public schools.
Tennessee
The Momma Bears have a fantastic blog that covers all issues surrounding Tennessee education. Give Tennesseans Reclaiming Educational Excellence (TREE) a follow on Twitter to keep up with all that is going on in Tennessee education. Pastors for Tennessee Children shared that the Tennessee Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the voucher case this month. “[T]he voucher plan [is] unfair because it poses a financial strain to each school district without local approval.” Tennessee Strong continues to share articles written in the Tennessee Education Report. The latest article highlights how Williamsport parents are speaking out for inclusion and diversity. Tennessee BATs organize out of a closed group on Facebook with over one thousand members. If you are a Tennessee teacher or a supporter of public education in Tennessee, go here and ask to join their Facebook group to connect.
Texas
Anette on Education had a great discussion with Rev. Charles Foster Johnson and Dr. Charles Luke, leaders of Pastors for Texas Children. PTC also released a Press Release this month praising the state board for blocking charters. CFISD Community Leadership Committee opinion is that local school districts governed by locally-elected Trustees should have local control over federal funds versus the appointed commissioner of the state bureaucracy that is actually holding hostage over $300 Million that Congress allocated to CFISD. Members of Texas Kids Can’t Wait are advocates for equitable and adequate funding for Texas public schools and for a sane assessment system. They strongly oppose the corporate takeover of public schools. To follow their advocacy go to their open Facebook page. RootEd publishes a monthly newsletter called The Branch. Go here to view their newsletter from last month. If you know of anyone in the Houston community, please have them connect with Parents For Public Schools of Houston. They do fantastic work in the Houston area. Community Voices For Public Education listed their hopes for the next Superintendent of Schools in Houston. Our Schools San Antonio is a coalition committed to community-driven public education in the San Antonio Independent School District. The Coalition for Equity in Public Education celebrated the accomplishments of Dallas Olympic hopeful Sha’Carri Richardson. Texas AFT held their 30th annual convention this month.
Virginia
Virginia Educators United is a grassroots collection of pro-public school people who act to support Virginia Public Schools. They organize in a closed Facebook group. If you are a Virginia educator, please ask to join and connect. Virginia BATs also organize in a closed Facebook group. If you are a Virginia educator, parent, or community member, please ask to join and connect. Support Our Schools-Shenandoah County organizes to fight for public education in that region. You can connect here. Virginia Public Education Partners is dedicated to supporting and protecting public education. They work to end school privatization maneuvers that undermine democracy and diminish available resources for public schools. Follow their updates here.
Washington State
WA BATs has an active Twitter feed full of powerful graphics. Check it out here. For more than five years Washington’s Paramount Duty has been pushing the state to tax the rich and fund Washington’s public schools. Thanks to the House Finance Committee, they’re closer than ever to that goal. To read more head to this link for a summary.
West Virginia
West Virginia United Caucus posted an article last month about their renaissance movement of teacher resistance. It is a powerful article that every union teacher should read.
Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Public Education Network will hold its 7th Annual Summer Summit, hosted by the Sun Prairie Area School District, on August 2, 2021 at Sun Prairie High School (with a virtual participation option). Registration is just $25/person, which includes lunch (for in-person attendance) AND the optional six-week Equity in Action Leadership Circle. To register, go here. WPEN also issued a call to action this month demanding WI lawmakers amend the budget for Wisconsin students. Schools and Communities United shared a very informative post on Facebook that outlined how the budget process works in Wisconsin. Go here to view that post. Parents for Public Schools Milwaukee let community members know that summer meals were available for the Milwaukee community.
NPE Grassroots Education Network – Resources and Graphics
Here is a link to our resources page. It will help you navigate resources covering a variety of topics. This is a live document and will be updated so check back for new resources.
Here is a link to our graphics page. It will provide powerful visuals for you to share on social media. This is a live document and will be updated so check back for new graphics.