Ongoing concern over reliability of the PARCC test due to insufficient time for field testing, in addition to inadequate technology to administer the test and lack of Common Core readiness in many schools across the state, support the view that this test is not yet ready for statewide, mandatory administration. Illinois is not alone in its opposition to this test in its current form. In fact, of the 23 states originally planning to use PARCC, only 8 states plus the District of Columbia are using both the elementary and high school versions of the PARCC. (Three additional states will use PARCC for some students.) ISBE needs to provide an appropriate education for all Illinois children; therefore, the PARCC test must be suspended for the 2014-2015 school year. We recommend the following modifications of the Illinois state 2014-2015 assessment schedule upon receipt of a waiver from the DOE: ---Delay the PARCC until the test is improved and validated through additional field testing ---Continue the use of other nationally-normed reading/math tests in 2014-15, such as NWEA MAP and ACT ---Move ACT high school testing back to its original date in April (currently early March) *************** Nosotros, los ciudadanos de Illinois, presentamos una petición a la Junta Educativa del Estado de Illinois (ISBE por sus siglas en inglés) para adquirir una exención del Departamento de Educación de EE.UU (USDOE por sus siglas en inglés) con el fin de aplazar la implementación de la prueba PARCC (por sus siglas en inglés) para el año escolar 2014-2015. Preocupación constante por fiabilidad de la prueba PARCC debido a la falta de tiempo en las pruebas de campo, además de una tecnología inadecuada para administrar la prueba y la falta de preparación de Common Core en muchas escuelas en todo el estado, apoyar el punto de vista que esta prueba todavía no está lista para por todo el estado, administración obligatoria. Illinois no está sola en su oposición a esta prueba en su forma actual. De hecho, de los 23 estados que originalmente planificaron el uso de la prueba PARCC, sólo 8 estados y el Distrito de Columbia han utilizado la prueba PARCC en las escuelas primarias y secundarias. (Otros tres estados utilizarán PARCC para algunos estudiantes.) ISBE debe proporcionar una educación apropiada para todos los niños de Illinois; por lo tanto, debe suspenderse la prueba PARCC para el año escolar 2014-2015. Recomendamos las siguientes modificaciones de la programación de evaluación de Illinois estado 2014-2015 a partir de recibir la exención del DOE: --- Retrasar la prueba PARCC hasta que se ha mejorado y validado a través de otras pruebas de campo. --- Continuar con el uso de otras pruebas de nivel nacional de lectura / matemáticas en 2014-15, como las pruebas NWEA, MAP y ACT (por sus siglas en inglés). --- Mover la prueba ACT de las escuelas secundarias a su fecha original para Abril (actualmente principios de Marzo)

The Connecticut River Academy has enforced a new rule called the 70% rule for home work. The 70% rule requires that you do 70% of your homework or you automatically fail the class regardless of your current grade. For example, if you do not do 4 home work assignments in a class you fail the class for the quarter even if my actual calculated grade is an -A. Many of our students are balancing school, sports, family, work etc. and every now and then things can get in the way of us doing our homework. Many of our upperclassmen are taking college classes at Goodwin, and the college to high school home work ratio can be too much to handle for many of them, causing them to put their high school homework on hold to complete college work and sustain the grades they need to pass those classes. The missed high school homework is counted against them and they are potentially failing their classes. It is unfair of the school to ask students to put sports, family, work and other activities on hold because they cannot miss between 3 to 4 homework assignments in a quarter. As a student body, many of us think this new rule is completely unjust and want this rule to be removed. If we can abolish this outrageous rule, homework will go back to being 10% of our grades and students can actually have the ability to pass their class even if homework becomes an issue. We need a total of 200 signatures to put up a fight against this policy. Please support the cause.

Throughout the school year, students can be under a great deal of pressure. I think one day off per quarter without penalty would be a good way to let kids get a break at their leisure and refocus on school.

Philadelphia's School Reform Commission cancelled its teachers' contract with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, with no warning, in a unanimous vote cast on Monday. I thought back to the time last April when I got the call: my 6 year-old daughter was having an asthma attack. “Take her to the nurse!” I told them, “the nurse has her inhaler.” “There is no nurse today, and it’s locked in her office. Only she has the key.” “WHY IS THERE NO NURSE?” “We don’t have a nurse on Tuesdays or Thursdays.” The reason there are no nurses in my daughter’s school two days a week is because of the School Reform Commission, run by Tom Corbett, that has taken away funds from nurses, libraries, and other activities that our children need and deserve. The teachers shouldn't have to pay for his bad deeds. We should be taxing frackers instead of fracking with teachers. We need to get the SRC out and take back control of Philly’s schools for our community.

The youth of Philadelphia are outraged as they continue to struggle for a fully funded quality education. This includes hearing the voices of students who are hurt most by these systematic genocidal policies imposed on them. The youth leaders of Youth United for Change recognize that budget cuts to full time nurses have left two students to die on the Philadelphia School District's time. We urge that folks stand up for what's best for the well-being of young people by returning local control of our school board to the education stakeholders of Philadelphia who care. We stand in solidarity with our teacher allies in reinstating the PFT contract. For too long, Philadelphia has not made decisions on education policies with the best intent in mind for students of color in our city. This has also been a district that has faced privatization attacks from right-wing school reformist experiments. We do not share this struggle alone as urban districts across the nation are under attack and it is time that this government takes ownership of the continuous oppression of youth of color at the local, state, and federal levels.

I personally feel physical education class is targeted toward the more athletically gifted students, aka "gym class heroes." An alternative choice would allow those who are not gifted a chance at getting the exercise they need. I personally would much rather work out my muscles than stand around watching a few students run back and forth on a field. Sometimes I feel very intimidated when 6 foot tall jocks push past me to retrieve the ball; dancing is something I do outside of school so therefore I am much more comfortable dancing than running after a ball I don't know what to do with.

Dan Coyne gave a kidney to a person he casually knew and the story became a national news story. Chicago Public Schools found out he lived outside of the city, and they started procedures to fire him. Public pressure made them rescind the firing and gave him a life time waiver to not move into Chicago in 2010. Now, Barbara Bird Bennett said 'rules are rules' and reneged the waiver. He is a wonderful social worker and is needed to help families in Chicago.

Waukegan teachers have been on strike since October 2nd. The Board of Education understands this means 17,000 students are out of class, but continues to sit on its hands and sends representatives with no power to make a deal. Teachers want a fair contract that includes provisions to improve health and safety conditions in the schools. More information ----> http://ow.ly/CrVpY

Speaking out for kindergarteners at St. Leonard to have a mid-day recess.

Starting during puberty and continuing through early adulthood, the circadian rhythm in our bodies shifts, making it almost impossible for young adults to fall asleep before eleven P.M. High school start times are not allowing students to get the full nine hours of sleep they need to be alert and aware. By changing start times, we can increase knowledge retention, while also decreasing the risk of sleep-induced car accidents.

It is time for the district to take a new direction. The citizens of the district have a team of dedicated staff, and an excellent facility. We must expect better from our superintendent.

To shift the paradigm from the lies and hypocrisy that our youth are subjected to. To stimulate a sense of pride in those who feel that their only history begins with slavery and to teach humility to those who have a falsely imprinted sense of entitlement.