Grassroots Education Network- September 2022 Newsletter
The NPE Grassroots Education Network is a network of 190 grassroots organizations nationwide that 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
Notes from Marla
NPE Executive Director Carol Burris shared in this months newsletter, “In March of 2020, NPE published a comprehensive guide on charter schools run by for-profits. That oft-cited report proved to be a trusted source of information for citizens, journalists, and policymakers. This fall, NPE will publish part two of Chartered for Profit, providing updated numbers on the continued growth of the for-profit charter world during the pandemic as well as examples of how shady profiteers cash in on our kids and tax dollars. We hope when that time comes you will share this report with your email lists, members, and on your social media.”
National Organizing
Network for Public Education releases informative newsletters bi-weekly. Go here to see the latest release which is full of information and resources. To subscribe to our newsletters go to our website to register. Defending the Early Years Kisha Reid chatted with Deb Curtis on the DEY Podcast. Deb is co-author of some of early childhood education’s most beloved books to include, The Art of Awareness, Really Seeing Children, The Visionary Director, Designs For Living & Learning, Learning Together with Young Children, Reflections in Communities of Practice, Children’s Lively Minds, and Reflecting Children’s Lives among others. In The Public Interest Jeremy Mohler will be on a panel at the MediaFest Convention in October. Jeff Bryant will also be sitting on the panel which will discuss the privatization of public services. Go here for more information. The Journey for Justice Alliance held their Equity Quality of Life Festival go here to see videos and pictures. The Schott Foundation celebrated 30 years of their work for racial and education justice. Go here to see video of that celebration. Be sure to keep up with the latest on testing by reading the Fairtest newsletter. Rethinking Schools highlighted a new book, The Spirit of Our Work: Black Women Teachers (Re)member by Cynthia Dillard (now dean of the College of Education at Seattle University). Dillard’s book provides language for what occurs when Black women teachers discover their spiritual wisdom and identities that are part of a long historical continuum of Black women’s resistance, creativity, and ultimately, their healing. The Parent Coalition for Student Privacy co-director Leonie Haimson gave a brief presentation at the 1st International Congress on Democratic Digital Education and Open Edtech in Barcelona (remotely), on how the Parent Coalition began and how their fight continues. Her presentation can be found at this link.
Parents for Public Schools, Inc. provided an update on the lawsuit about pandemic money being directed to private schools. The lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Mississippi, Mississippi Center for Justice, and Democracy Forward on behalf of Parents for Public Schools establishes that the state is violating its own constitution by directing $10 million in pandemic relief money to private schools. Read more about this latest news update here. Parents Across America has a fantastic website full of resources for parents across the country. The Badass Teachers Association (BATs) members reject racially and socially oppressive profit-driven education reform. To learn more about their work visit their website. 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 President Karen Littlewood welcomed students and staff back to school. Support Our Students Alberta published an article in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix warning the community about privatization. Wear Red for Ed has an active open Facebook page that tracks the Red for Ed movement nationwide. Uniting to Save Our Schools (USOS) has published inspirational videos from the National Day of Teaching Truth. You can view those videos here. First Focus Campaign for Children article Free Meals are a Clear Win for Children and Families is a must read.
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 celebrated the birthday of Maria Montessori. Fairplay shared that the CA Age Appropriate Design Code passed the Senate and is on its way to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. Fairplay’s Josh Golin comments about this in an article in The Guardian. Equal Opportunity Schools collaborates with school districts to increase equitable enrollment in rigorous courses. To learn more about their work go here. 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. To keep up with what the National Educators United are doing be sure to visit their website. To find out what the Saphron Initiative is working on be sure to visit their website. Federacion de Maestros de Puerto Rico joined the network this month. To learn more about their work go here.
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 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) shares information about the Corporate Education Reform movement and Common Core. Be sure to visit their Facebook page for updated information.
Arkansas
Grassroots Arkansas is a coalition of activist dedicated to fighting for an equitable Central Arkansas. They want to bring an end to social, economic, political injustice and inequality by transforming the power relations and structures that create and hold them in place. They place education at the democratic center of this struggle that reaches every aspect of our lives. To learn more about their work visit their website.
Arizona
Voices for Education is working hard to update the public on news regarding public education in Arizona. Be sure to visit Arizonans for Charter School Accountability website that offers resources that compare charter school and public school spending. Save Our Schools Arizona created a great video on what will happen if we don’t stop voucher expansion. Arizona Educators United #RedForEd movement is about educators coming together in solidarity for students, schools, colleagues, and communities to fight for the schools our students deserve. This core group developed an 8-week organizing blitz, in coordination with the Arizona Education Association (AEA), and successfully built escalating actions that were organized by over 2,000 volunteers and/or local union reps (liaisons) at 1,200 school sites across the state. To learn more about their work visit their website.
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 is located in Los Angeles. If you live in the area and are interested in joining their monthly meetings go here. 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 stood with Teacher Adriana Chavira and her student journalists who are facing issues of student censorship. The San Francisco Berniecrats Education Justice Committee held a successful art festival this month. Parents for Public Schools of San Francisco’s Dorothy Clark spoke at the August San Francisco School Board meeting. Dorothy spoke on the need for equity which Parents for Public Schools of San Francisco hold as their mission.
Colorado
Pueblo Education Coalition’s goal is to represent educators, parents, community members, students, and all stakeholders to achieve positive change for Pueblo’s public education. To keep up with their movements, go here. Taxpayers for Public Education works hard to stop voucher expansion in Colorado. To keep up with their work be sure to visit their website. Our Denver Our Schools want the Colorado community to know who is funding education in Denver and Colorado.
Connecticut
Connecticut Public Schools Advocates Children are Connecticut families and educators advocating for safe, equitable, fully funded public schools. Go to their open Facebook page to see what they are working on. Children Are More Than Test Scores has a vibrant open Facebook page full of discussion and information about the fight for public schools. Head over to join the discussion and to connect. 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.
Delaware
Friends of Christina School District (FOCSD) is a group of parents and community members who advocate for excellent district schools. Their goal is to ensure that every child enrolled in the district receives the resources and support that he or she needs to enjoy a high-quality education. Go here to keep up with their events and actions.
Florida
The NPE Grassroots Education Network sends our heartfelt thoughts to all of our Florida partners impacted by Hurricane Ian. The Fund Education NOW website is full of information and resources for Florida residents who want to keep up with education news. Florida BATs and Broward BATs post the latest updates on how the Florida COVID surge is impacting schools. Go here and here for updates. Pastors for Florida Children exists to provide care to local schools, and to advocate for children by supporting our free, public education system to promote social justice for children, and to advance legislation that enriches FL children, families, and communities. Go here to keep up with any events they are planning. The Florida Council of Churches is a catalyst for Christian unity and witness to God’s love for creation and all humanity. It is committed to a vision of antiracist Florida in church and society. They take part in many events across the state of Florida. Opt-Out Florida Network continues to follow and comment on issues impacting Florida education. Head over to their open Facebook page to take part in their discussions. Pinellas Parents Advocating for Public Schools 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 is a grassroots group giving a voice to parents of students in any Miami-Dade County Public School. Go here to keep up with any events they are holding in the Miami-Dade area. UnitED for Florida Children has a website full of resources and information. Go here to check it out. Hillsborough Public School Advocates is a grassroots group formed to educate, equip, and empower parents, teachers, and community members to advocate for public education in Hillsborough County. If you live in Hillsborough County ask to join their private group on Facebook to connect. Democratic Public Education Caucus of Florida are holding Zoom meetings to educate their community on how to create education caucuses in their areas. Families for Safe Schools launched their Let’s Support Our School campaign this month. Americans United for the Separation of Church Atlantic Coast Chapter national group Americans United for Separation of Church and State are launching an investigation into new Florida educational standards that reportedly promote white Christian Nationalism. Go here for more information on that story. Support our Schools, USA encouraged Sarasota residents to attend the first school board meeting with them so that they could protect Sarasota public schools.
Georgia
Public Education Matters Georgia is a statewide organization committed to fostering community support for quality public education in GA through outreach, information, and advocacy. To keep up with their advocacy go here. Moms and Dads Now Enduring Surrealistic Stupidity (MADNESS) shared this powerful letter about standardized testing from an Athens, GA student. 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 actions, visit their website. The Georgia Youth Justice Coalition is hiring. If you know of any youth in Georgia let them know and send them here to connect.
Hawaii
Parents for Public Schools Hawaii are asking citizens to register for the Children and Youth Summit to be held next month. The summit is an annual event that brings together youth and youth advocates. Participants discuss the key issues that they believe the Hawaii State Legislature needs to address to make Hawaii a better place to live and work.
Illinois
Illinois Raise Your Hand are accepting resumes on a rolling basis. If you’re education justice warrior and believe in public schools, send your info to jobs@ilraiseyourhand.org. Illinois Families for Public Schools were one of the sponsors of “Systemic Racism in Our Schools” town hall this month.
Indiana
The Indiana Coalition for Public Education partnered with their public education friends in South Bend to host a Zoom this month featuring their Board member, Dr. Jennifer McCormick. Dr. McCormick spoke on school choice policies. Indiana Coalition for Public Schools – Monroe County monthly newsletter outlines five things that citizens can do to support public schools in September. The Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education publishes their most popular posts on Facebook each week. Keep up with the trends in advocacy for public education in Indiana by checking them out. The mission of the Northwest Indiana Coalition for Public Education is to advocate for a high quality and equitable public education for every child in NWI. Go here to keep up with what they are working on. Washington Township Parent Council Network is a group of parent and caregiver advocates who believe public education is a quality investment in the future. Go here to check out their events and actions. Jefferson County Public Schools Advocacy Group organizes in a private group on Facebook. If you know anyone in Jefferson County who is concerned about the anti-education movement, go here to join.
Iowa
Iowans for Public Education thanked teachers, para-educators, administrators, and other school staff as they head back to school this year.
Kansas
Game on for Kansas Schools regularly follow news from states that have voucher programs, and they continue to inform their opposition to tax credit “scholarships,” education savings accounts and other voucher programs. Game on for Kansas Schools shared the latest article about vouchers from Stephen Dyer, former House Education Committee Chair in Ohio. The Personnel Association of Lawrence- Communication Workers of America informed their community that if they have a three or four year old child and want free pre-school to come work with PAL-CWA as a classified staff person in Lawrence Public Schools.
Kentucky
Dear JCPS has received a high number of reports of JCPS employees, parents and students coming forward with their experiences of discrimination, retaliation, harassment and being pushed out for being a “problem.” When these complaints have been elevated to JCPS leaders by victims or whistleblowers for resolution, there have documented cases of targeting, denial of any wrongdoing, “gag order” settlements, lies, cover-ups and fraud. Dear JCPS is interested in learning more about these experiences so they can aggregate them and encourage district leaders to address these patterns and practices at the root. If you or someone you know has suffered as a result of these types of experiences in JCPS, please complete their survey. All respondents will be kept anonymous unless explicit permission is granted otherwise. Kentucky Save Our Schools drove through Eastern Kentucky last month. They had a chance to check in on some of the schools that were impacted by the flooding and drop off some supplies. Pastors for Kentucky Children offered up a powerful prayer for students and teachers as they return back to school.
Louisiana
Step Up Louisiana will be holding their awards gala on October 7th. For more information go here.
Maryland
The Baltimore Algebra Project is a youth organization that works to end the school to prison pipeline. To learn more about them, go here.
Massachusetts
Citizens for Public Schools shared that MA BESE member Martin West said that higher standards will ensure students are ready for college and career success upon graduation. Many closer to the day-to-day experience in schools, including educators, students, parents and district leaders, say it instead feels like a harsh turning of the screw typical of the “test and punish” stance policymakers take toward public education in America. The New Bedford Coalition to Save our Schools is a coalition of families, educators and community leaders advocating for high-quality public education for all students in New Bedford. To keep up with their activities visit their open Facebook page.
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. Be sure to check in with Save Michigan’s Public Schools for the latest in Michigan education news. Michigan Parents for Schools has an extensive website to help Michigan parents and educators. Be sure to check it out here. MI Ed Justice are educators, administrators, parents, students & community members who believe to save our public schools from privatization, we need to humanize our public schools. To learn more about their work go here. Trusted Voices ED advocates extensively for teacher pay on their social media platforms. Support FHPS (Forest Hills Public Schools) stands with educators in who are being threatened for what they put on social media and they also stand with students who have a right to see their family represented in books. Go here for more on their statement.
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 works on strengthening public schools by engaging, educating, and mobilizing parents in Greenwood and Leflore County. 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 published that Nebraska and North Dakota remain the only two states in the nation with an A+ rating for their commitment to democratically governed public schools that are open to all. Stand for Schools noted that with community support, they will ensure Nebraska public schools remain some of the very best in the country, and they will make them even better – for all children. Stand for Schools will stand with other Nebraskans to protect students, families, and teachers from the discrimination, corruption, and fraud that has followed school privatization measures in state after state. You can access all of Nebraska Loves Public Schools films at this link.
Nevada
Educate Nevada NOW is a multi-year campaign aimed at securing school finance reform and improving education outcomes and opportunities for Nevada public school children. To learn more about their work go here. 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
New Hampshire Leaders for Just Schools are NH public school educators dedicated to the mission of creating more equitable and just learning environments. Give them a follow on Twitter to keep up with what they are doing. 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 provided information about the fact that there is no law in place that compels students to take the Start Strong Test. To see more information about how to opt out of the Start Strong Test go here. 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 in New Jersey. To keep up with what they are doing, go here. 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. Paterson Education Fund led three Paterson Public Schools in a triumph over trauma program. Parents Educating Parents provided information for free preschool in their district. The New Jersey Community Schools Coalition is working in partnership with national and state partners to expand community schools in New Jersey. They are also a great resource for community school research and information. To keep up with their amazing work go to their website.
New York
Class Size Matters had a HUGE victory this month when Gov. Hochul signed the NYC Class Size Bill. The Alliance for Quality Education is a coalition mobilizing communities across the state to keep New York true to its promise of ensuring a high-quality public education to all students regardless of ZIP code. They are working to end the systemic racism and economic oppression in New York’s public schools that continues to shortchange generations of Black, Brown, low-income and immigrant students. New York Allies for Public Education is a network of organizations who support public education and oppose the current excessive testing mandates and collection of private student data. To keep up with all their activities be sure to visit their website. LI Opt-Out supports public schools, and shares information about public schools, high-stakes testing, APPR, data mining, common core and opting out on their open Facebook page. Go here to join if you live on Long Island and want to join a powerful movement to end high stakes testing. NYC Opt Out website is filled with valuable information for NYC families on opting out of high stakes testing, school admissions, and a section for parents to know their rights. 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. Give FUSE (New Rochelle Federation of United School Employees) a follow on Twitter to find out how they will navigate the upcoming school year. MORE-UFT supported Early Childhood Instructional Coordinators and Social Workers who rallied with the support of three thousand, PreK teachers, parents and allies! MORE-UFT stands in solidarity in demanding that the Division of Early Childhood Education rescind the excess letters of 400 instructional coordinators and social workers who do vital work with children as they enter schools and daycares for the first time. 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. Check it out here. Parents for Public Schools- Syracuse works to support and sustain public schools and promote parents’ involvement in public schools, and their children’s education. They reaffirm and work to preserve the American tradition and ideal of free, open, non-discriminatory, publicly funded, democratically governed public schools. You can follow their work here. 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 are asking public school educators and advocates from around the state to share their voice on the PS1NC blog. For more information on that go here. North Carolina Families for School Testing Reform are working together to bring legislative change to the NC Public School Testing. They are advocating for fewer tests, fairer tests, and fruitful tests. Neighbors for Better Neighborhoods informed the Winston-Salem area about proposed new Ward Boundaries. Pastors for North Carolina Children called on Raleigh area volunteers to help PNCC assemble materials for upcoming events. They need 1-2 people to come during the day to their NEW office inside Edenton Street United Methodist Church in downtown Raleigh. Message them for more information. It’s a seated job putting papers in bags. Parents for Public Schools of Pitt County attended the Education Network Reception this month. Every Child NC gave a shout out to their incredible coordinating committee member, Jenice from ISLA NC, for presenting at the Amexcan Latinx Summit on Leandro and the amazing work of their coalition!
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 invited their community join a webinar this month about safe schools and not arming teachers. 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 posts upcoming events on their open Facebook page. Northeast Ohio Friends of Public Education has a fantastic website full of information that is centered around public education in Ohio. Public Education Partners (PEP) posted that at the State Board of Education’s this month, Board Member Brendan Shea will present a harmful, anti-LGBTQ+ resolution for consideration. Ohioans should consider speaking out against this targeted attack on LGBTQ+ students and demanding that Ohio schools stay in compliance with Title IX federal regulations.
Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Parent Legislative Action Committee serves as a connecting organization for local PLAC groups and affiliated organizations that advocate for a strong public education system in OK. To learn more about their work visit their website. Pastors for Oklahoma Children exposed a private school in OK that would remove students with special needs, speech needs, behavior challenges, or ANY kind of study habit challenges. It’s right here in black and white from an Oklahoma private school eligible for public funds if OK pass school vouchers this session. 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)’s goal is to raise awareness and build community around public education issues, as well as support an informed citizenry in having input into public education policies and practices. Oregon Save Our Schools is a group of parents, grandparents, teachers, students, support staff, and community members joining together to defend public education in Oregon. Go to their open Facebook page to get involved with their actions. Oregon BATs organizes in a closed Facebook group. If you are an Oregon teacher or community member, ask to join and connect. Community & Parents for Public Schools of Portland (CPPS) is partnering with their Pitt County, NC chapter on revitalization. Go to their website to learn more.
Pennsylvania
The Keystone State Education Coalition publishes a daily PA education policy roundup. Pennsylvania School Board Association promotes excellence in public education and school board governance. To keep up with all of their events visit their active twitter feed. The Pittsburgh Task Force on the Right to Education conducts webinars about special education services and shares information for parents of special education students. Be sure to visit their Facebook page for updates. Education Voters PA wants to know of any districts where administrators are telling teachers that they must report students who are asking to be called by a name that is different from what is in the school’s database. To learn more go here. The Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools wrote that the Philadelphia School Board accepted no responsibility for the Universal Education Companies debacle. 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. BASD (Bethlehem Area School District) Parents continues to share important information on how unfair funding impacts public schools in PA. DASD Parent Partners (Downington, PA) has a very active blog. Head to their website to read all of their essays.
Rhode Island
The Providence Student Union sent out a survey to gubernatorial candidates about their stance on Counselors Not Cops. Here are their responses. To keep up with what is happening in Rhode Island, give the Parents Across Rhode Island Facebook page a follow.
South Carolina
The Quality Education Project has a very active public Facebook page. If you live in South Carolina be sure to connect and join the discussion.
Tennessee
Give Tennesseans Reclaiming Educational Excellence (TREE) a follow on Twitter to keep up with all that is going on in Tennessee education. Be sure to visit the Pastors for Tennessee Children website. It is full of valuable information and resources. Tennessee Strong continues to share articles written in the Tennessee Education Report. The latest article discusses how the new third grade law is devastating. Tennessee BATs organizes 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
Pastors for Texas Children shared that the Charles Butt Foundation will release their third annual statewide survey of Texas teachers – the 2022 Texas Teacher Poll: Persistent Problems and a Path Forward. You can view the results here. CFISD Community Leadership Committee is composed of parents, business owners, and community members, partnering with the CFISD and area lawmakers to enable the success of all children in the CFSID community. 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 gives support to their community and chapters at weekly football games. 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 Houston. Community Voices For Public Education is a local group of parents, students, teachers, and community members working to improve public education in Houston. Go here to keep up with their actions and activity. 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 works to uphold democratic community schools by evaluating education policy and communicating findings to the public. Founded in 2017, they have been determined to make an impact for the betterment of local ISDs. To keep up with their work, go here. Texas AFT shared a video of La Joya AFT President Brenda Salinas who gave a short but powerful speech at her school board meeting in which she advocated for the needs of custodians, pre-K teachers, students, and parents. El Paso Alliance for Just Schools is a coalition of local community members, grassroots and labor. To keep up with what they are working on go here. Public Schools First McKinney congratulated the McKinney Independent School district which was given one of the best places to work award by the Dallas Business Journal.
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 organizes 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 events and actions here. Richmond For All joined the Richmond Crusade for Voters, Inc., Richmond Virginia Branch NAACP, BLM804, and Center for Common Ground’s Democracy Center in calling for corrective action on behalf of RPS students. Educators have been sounding the alarm on failed curriculum for years, and while administration delays action RPS students pay the price. The Superintendent cannot continue to curry favor with the Mayor at the expense of students, educators, and communities.
Washington State
WA BATs organizes in a closed Facebook group. Go here to join and connect. Washington’s Paramount Duty is a non-partisan, grassroots group of parents and allies working to compel the state to amply fund basic education and swiftly fulfill its paramount duty. They envision a future where every child has equitable access to an amply funded basic education.
West Virginia
West Virginia United Caucus stood in solidarity with the Seattle Education Association.
Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Public Education Network welcomed the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction education budget proposal this month. To learn more about the budget go here. Schools and Communities United continues to share important information that impacts Milwaukee schools. Be sure to like them on Facebook if you live in Milwaukee, or if you know someone who does send them there. If you live in the Milwaukee community, join Parents for Public Schools Milwaukee, students and allies to create a strong, diverse, districtwide network of parent advocates for children and their schools. Working with teachers, the superintendent, city and state officials, they are focused on finding and implementing solutions that will help children receive the high-quality public education they deserve.
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.
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