Coordinated by NPE’s Marla Kilfoye, the Grassroots Education Network is a nationwide network of more than 80 grassroots organizations that have joined together to preserve, promote, improve, and strengthen our public schools. The Network provides its members with connections to organizations from across the country for resources, advice, and guidance.
Meet Marla
Marla Kilfoyle was a public school teacher who taught in rural, urban, and suburban communities for 30 years. A National Board Certified Teacher, Marla was the first educator to be honored as a Finkelstein Memorial Lecturer at Adelphi University because of her commitment as a public education advocate. Marla also co-authored an Amicus Brief filed in the Supreme Court for Friedrichs vs. CTA and was honored by the NYS Assembly in 2012 as a Woman of Distinction.
She served as the Executive Director of The Badass Teachers Association (BATs) from 2013-2018 and she was on the Steering Committee for the New York State Allies for Public Education from 2014-2018. Throughout her teaching career in the Oceanside, New York School District she held many elected positions in her union. Marla has worked for NPE since she retired from teaching in 2017.
State Organizations
Alabama
Support Our Students
Arizona
Friends of Public Schools – Scottsdale
SOS Arizona: For more information contact Beth Lewis at info@sosarizona.org
Arkansas
Grassroots Arkansas
California
Parents Supporting Teachers
Parents for Public Schools San Fran
Evolve California: For more information contact Olivia McHaney at olivia@evolve-ca.org
Colorado
Advocated for Public Education Policy
Our Denver Our Schools: For more information contact Melissa Tomlinson at contact.batmanager@gmail.com
Florida
Fund Education Now: For more information contact Kathleen Oropeza at kathleen@fundeducationnow.org
Pastors for Florida’s Children
Miami Dade County Public School Parents
Support Our Students, USA: For more information please contact Lisa Schurr at lisa@supportourschools.com
Families for Safe Schools: For more information please contact Kim Hough at ffss.brevard@gmail.com
Florida cont.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Atlantic Coast
National Organization for Women Jacksonville
Florida Freedom to Read Project
Help Out Public Education
The Purple Group of Lee County
League of Women Voters of Jacksonville First Coast
Illinois Families for Public Schools: For more information contact Cassie Creswell at cassie@ilfps.org
Indiana
Indiana Coalition For Public Education: For more information contact Cathy Fuentes Rohwer info@indianacoalitionforpubliced.org
Iowa
Iowans for Public Education
Kansas
Game on for Kansas: For more information contact Judith Deedy mjdeedy@kc.rr.com
Kentucky
Save Our Schools Kentucky
The Council for Better Education
Louisiana
Step Up Louisiana
Maryland
Strong Schools Maryland
Massachusetts
Citizens for Public Schools
Michigan
Save Michigan’s Public Schools
Support FHPS (Forest Hills Public Schools): For more information please contact Becky Olson at info@supportfhps.org
Support FHPS Community Action: For more information please contact Alyssa Arnemann at hello@supportfhpsaction.org
Montana
Montanans Organized for Education: For more information contact Moffie Funk at moffie@mofeactionfund.org
New York
Alliance for Quality Education: For information contact Jasmine Gripper at jasmine@aqeny.org
Class Size Matters
Long Island Opt Out
Movement of Rank and File Educators
New York State Allies for Public Education
NYC Opt Out
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Parent Legislative Action Committee: For more information contact Monica Whitely at monicaw90@gmail.com
Pastors for Oklahoma Kids
Oregon
Community Alliance For Public Education
Community and Parents for Public Schools of Portland
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania School Board Association: For more information contact David Hutchinson at David.Hutchinson@psba.org
Pittsburgh Task Force on the Right to Education
Rhode Island
Providence Student Union
South Carolina
Quality Education Project
Tennessee
Pastors for Tennessee Children
Texas
Pastors for Texas Children
Community Voices For Public Education: For more information contact Anne Sung or Karen Miller at houstoncvpe@gmail.com
The Coalition For Public Schools
RootEd
Grandparents for Public Schools
Access Education RRISD: For more information contact Kathryn Kizer at social@accessrrisd.org
Our Schools Our Democracy
Virginia
Richmond For All: For more information please contact Info@RichmondForAll.com
The Network also works with NPE to provide up-to-date information on the issues surrounding the attempt to privatize public education in various states across the country. The Network issues a monthly newsletter to highlight what the organizations are doing, what they plan to do, and their contact information.
