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Homeschoolers should be able to play sports for public schools!I just started this journey with my children and the more people find out that my son can not participate with kids he has been playing sports, the more shocked they become. I believe many people aren't even aware that this law is in effect, NY being one of 19 states that do not allow HS children to play sports. It is time people become aware of this discrimination!!388 of 400 SignaturesCreated by Deana Madigan
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Tell TIME Magazine: Apologize to America's teachersTime magazine is about to use its cover to blame teachers for the problems in America’s schools. On Monday, Nov. 3, this cover will be in every supermarket checkout line and newsstand across the country—and it’s already online. Time’s cover misrepresents its own reporting. The Time article looks at the wealthy sponsors of these efforts. And while it looks critically at tenure, it also questions the testing industry’s connections to Silicon Valley and the motives of these players. The cover is particularly disappointing because the articles inside the magazine present a much more balanced view of the issue. But for millions of Americans, all they will see is the cover and a misleading attack on teachers.4,441 of 5,000 SignaturesCreated by Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers
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Employee Child ErollmentComments by DEA Members -The most agreed upon concept is that the teachers will be a part of the entire Darien Community; attending sporting events, talent shows, dramatic and musical performances. Once a child is involved with a school, they are likely to want to participate in other programs offered by that community, such as little league and CCD. Having teachers know their students’ interests and actually see them participate in programs beyond the classroom, strengthens the relationship and the motivation level of both the students and the teachers. -Our principal had told the grade level leaders that the PTO would appreciate any teachers that could to attend our schools’ talent show on Saturday. The PTO hopes to create a stronger community with the teachers. She explained to them that many teachers spend the weekends with their families and have activities for their own children in the town they live in. While, she would pass on the message to teachers, she wanted them to understand that side. This is a perfect example of how allowing teachers to bring their children would increase teacher attendance at school event and create more community in the school district. Since many teachers cannot afford to live in Darien, most teachers’ kids do not attend DPS- and therefore not as many teachers are available to attend school functions outside of school hours. - Up until 2005, faculty children could attend Darien Public Schools. Policy changed due to increase in enrollments. -Similar districts offer this benefit • New Canaan • Ridgefield • Westport • Greenwich • Weston -Benefits • Incentive for longevity of teacher employment • Attract highly qualified new teachers with additional benefit • PTO’s have requested to build strong community involvement of teachers • It would increase teacher involvement since teachers would attend more events with their own children o Sports teams o Sporting events o Talent shows o Theatre and music events o Turkey bowl o Class Advisor – increase participation o Participation in Committees o Names Day o Tall and small dance o Book fair • Teacher/Child would have same school schedule and snow days • Teachers would have less child care issues and it would free up time to attend more events with their own children within the Darien district. -I think there are many positive aspects to this addition in our contract. I think the key information would be comparisons to the surrounding districts. Many of us have given years of service and dedication to the district, and it would be nice to have some additional benefits to assist us in giving our children a better education. I know it would also be easier for parents to have the same days off, snow days etc. However, I heard (not sure if it’s true) that many years ago when this was intact you could have your child here but then they changed elementary schools every year based on the enrollment numbers per school. I would not like my child switching every year so we would have to make sure that whichever school they were enrolled in they stayed in that school. -Teachers whose children attend school in the district they work in could potentially need to take fewer personal or sick days if their schedules align with their children's school schedule. I often hear of teachers who have to leave early, or stay home to take care of or pick up their children due to school closings, sickness or holidays that don't align from town to town. Also, typically parents are very invested in and dedicated to enhancing the schools and educational programs of which their children are a part of. As teachers, of course we are all very invested in our careers and in making this district the best it can be for the children who attend school here. However, if our own children went to the schools here too it seems that the potential for furthering our investment in this district would be even greater. We may be able to volunteer more often, or work more towards enhancing the programs that are offered here, as opposed to going home to our own towns and volunteering our time there. In these ways, I think the tax payers in the town would be benefitting from teachers being allowed to bring their children to school here. These are all just thoughts and points of discussion that have been brought to my attention during conversations with fellow teachers about this subject, (and with some mothers who live in the town)… Not to mention that I believe many of the surrounding towns allow this… if Darien did too, then it would obviously be attractive to potential new hires. In the competitive area that we live and work in, don’t we want to attract the most qualified new teachers to our district?203 of 300 SignaturesCreated by Richard Fisco
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Support of Full Day Kindergarten 2015Concerned Citizens for Full Day Kindergarten represents community groups within the HV School District. Along with increasing academic instruction, developmentally appropriate full-day kindergarten will offer a more relaxed atmosphere and more opportunities for child-centered, creative activities, as well as more opportunities for developing social skills. Currently, Kindergarten teachers face the challenge of squeezing a full day curriculum into a half day schedule. This means Kindergarteners do not receive the full benefit of the reading and writing curriculum or sufficient exposure to Math, Science, Social Studies, Art and Music. The space, curriculum and budget is there. There is no reason to delay! Let's not let time be the reason kindergartners of 2015 do not get a fair education.408 of 500 SignaturesCreated by HV
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Keeping Lake Olympia Zoned to Elkins H.S.Fort Bend ISD currently has a proposal to rezone all Lake Olympia residents attending Elkins High School. Under this proposal, all Lake Olympia residents entering grades nine, ten, and eleven, will be required to attend Hightower High School, starting in the 2015-2016 school year. Please let the voices of Lake Olympia be heard.968 of 1,000 SignaturesCreated by Arianna Dunne
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Let's 86 student debt in Oregon!Right now Oregon is 47th in the country for what we invest in higher education. There are only three states doing less to support students in America than we are! We have the opportunity to do something really big to support higher education by voting YES on Measure 86, which would allow the state of Oregon to create a fund called the Student Opportunity Fund -- a constitutionally-protected source of student aid for higher education and job training. I believe our students -- who make up the future workforce -- are every bit as important to our state’s economic vitality as infrastructure. Measure 86 would allow the legislature to use the same funding mechanism we use to pay for new bridges and highways to pay for our students to get a college education. Oregon’s graduates right now each have an average of $29,000 in debt. That’s not the Oregon I want to leave to our kids. Support our students and vote YES on Measure 86 on Election Day! There are some really good ideas out there to support students trying to get an education. We already have the Oregon Opportunity Grant which provides direct support to students in need. Also on the horizon, I am very excited about the innovative Pay it Forward proposal that my friends from Oregon Working Families have been leading the way on. Ted Wheeler Oregon State Treasurer1,080 of 2,000 SignaturesCreated by Ted Wheeler, Oregon State Treasurer
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Get common core out of OPUSD schoolsI have a smart student who is now frustrated and not doing well with the common core method. Why fix something that wasn't broken in OPUSD schools? Go back to the old way of teaching.28 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Micheline
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Rehabilitation, Not Incarceration!Majority of my peers spend their leisure time in school, participating in athletics, or establishing a social life; they are not plotting, executing, and contemplating the consequences of criminal activity. These are the primary reasons why adolescents should be given alternative trials and consequences; they do not share the same mental capabilities as adults, so they should be regarded as one.52 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Imani Starling- Brown
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Less Testing, More Learning!The primary purpose of assessment in our public schools should be to improve teaching and learning. However, the high-stakes tests mandated in Massachusetts offer little benefit for students. High-stakes testing stifles innovation, narrows the curriculum, and hinders students from developing advanced thinking and problem-solving skills. Even US Education Secretary Arne Duncan admits that “testing issues today are sucking the oxygen out of the room in a lot of schools.”7,252 of 8,000 SignaturesCreated by Lisa Guisbond
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Tell the Department of Education to Expand Repayment Options to ALL Student Loan BorrowersStudent loan debt has surpassed $1.2 trillion, and Americans are struggling to handle the burden of their education debt. That is why it is so important the Department of Education expands PAYE to help borrowers manage their student loans. Get more information on enrolling in these programs! -http://www.consumerfinance.gov/paying-for-college/repay-student-debt/#Question-140,185 of 45,000 SignaturesCreated by StudentDebtCrisis.org
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Support the Ms. Agna playground expansion!This past June, due to increasing safety concerns, Jackson Street School had to make the very tough decision to remove the volunteer-built and beloved wooden structure, which had become an iconic play space for generations of Northampton families. As sad as the Jackson Street community was to bid farewell to the structure and gathering space, it views this moment as an opportunity to create a truly accessible, environmentally sound play and educational space, tied in greater measure to the best practices of outdoor play and learning which aid in building minds, bodies, and community. After a period of reflection and dialogue where students, faculty, staff, and families considered their options for moving forward, the Jackson Street community decided to expand a remaining play space (lovingly called the Ms. Agna Playground) and add an outdoor classroom, rather than build an entirely new playground. The community felt that this decision would yield the best stewardship of public and private resources and have the greatest positive impact. We must raise $246,771 and we need the CPA's help to do it!683 of 800 SignaturesCreated by Jo Comerford
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Stop discriminating against Deaf and hard of hearing students and grant live captioning technolo...I am writing this petition on behalf of my son, Ben. He is 12 years old, in 5th grade, and he is deaf. There is technology and assistance that would allow him to have equal access to education, and he is not receiving it from his school district. He struggles every day. Imagine wearing noise cancelling headphones in a classroom and then be expected to perform on the same level as your hearing classmates. This is what Ben has to do, as well as others like him. We went to the school during the 2012-13 school year and made a request for captioning equipment as well as other ideas to make the classroom accessible, and we were met with skepticism and ignorance on the subjects of his disability and accessibility. As time passes, my child sits in a classroom desperately trying to keep up with lectures and student interaction, which is so important to cognitive development and education, but also leaves him fatigued, frustrated and with headaches. Even those of you who may not be familiar with deafness or any other disability, you encounter accessibility for the disabled every day. Ramps, railings and special parking for those in wheel chairs, Braille on ATMs and “beeps” at crosswalks for the visually impaired and alarm systems that can be seen and heard are all examples of everyday accessibility that we take for granted. These are some of the ways that people with disabilities are able to be productive members of our society. My son needs access to technology that converts the words spoken in the classroom into text and displaying them on a computer screen so that he can follow the teacher’s lecture, other students’ questions, class discussion or other oral information presented in the classroom. Captioning captures all pertinent oral information presented in the classroom. This technology would allow Ben to use his voice in class to participate in discussions which are critical for his education and for improving voice quality so that others will more readily understand his speech. Captioning technology will allow Ben to develop oral vocabulary and hone the ability to “listen”. As Ben puts meaning to sounds with the help of this tool he will be learning to communicate independently. Ben does not use sign language. He is in a very small percentage of the Deaf community that chooses the spoken word. This is the mode of communication that he has chosen. If Ben did sign, he would have an interpreter. Would it not stand to reason that the school district would allow him interpretation in his mode of communication? Even students who use sign language often prefer speech to text in an educational setting. Please help Ben achieve his dreams by giving him a fair and appropriate education. He is a loving intelligent young person, who without this technology has very little chance of achieving his potential.212 of 300 SignaturesCreated by Tracy Fahey Shanahan