My son attends Cedar Middle School in Hesperia CA. To hear that the school district has eliminated the 8th grade graduation ceremony is saddening. It robs our children of being formally recognized for their achievements. Elementary, middle and high school graduations have always been a long time tradition for all schools in the state of California. No one has the right to change that. Several schools in the district have now chosen to have an awards assembly to satisfy parents concerns. They say that they eliminated 8th grade graduation ceremonies because they want our kids to focus on high school graduation. High School graduation has NOTHING to do with an 8th grade graduation ceremony. ALL children should participate in a formal ceremony, promoting them to the next big stage in their life. Our kids help earn money for these schools and we as tax payers contribute a portion of our earnings as well. Our kids studied hard and EARNED the right to be promoted. There is NO reason why this rule should have ever been implemented. We are a community of families who should formally celebrate our children's accomplishments, no matter how old they are and certainly no matter what grade level they are in.

This week Gov. Brown neglected early learning. In his revised budget, he allocated no new money for early education and care, even though there are nearly 200,000 children stuck on wait lists for these programs. The budget must be finalized next month, so we need to show him he's making a huge mistake.

Four years ago our colleagues formed a union to provide a positive and stable learning environment for our students. They came together, just as we stand together now, for teacher voice at AECI. A contract will bring stability to our school community while at the same time enshrining what works at AECI and developing a framework to fix any concerns that may arise. A contract can create transparency and equity. The due process piece represents an important structure to implement all aspects of the contract. It has been a long road but we remain united in our goals to achieve fair pay and benefits, and a due process structure to maintain our rights. Please help support our school and our students. Let us focus on educating free from distraction and with a contract in place. When AECI's faculty has a voice, we can create a better learning environment for everyone. Please help us grow as educators with our students so we can build the best school possible together.

I have advocated for children for the past 20 years and this behavior is NEVER ok. That child or any other should not have to interact with her. The only thing she has taught others with this particular incident is Fear! Children have rights too!

Parents who would be willing to volunteer to serve on a "bulling" watchdog board or a combo student/parent bulling court. If you have a child who has been a victim of bulling and you feel you have no voice or appropriate action has been taken, help us bring this board to fruition.

In his revised budget, Gov. Brown allocated no new money for early education and care, even though there are nearly 200,000 children on wait lists for these programs. The budget has to be finalized next month, so we need to show overwhelming support right now to fix this mistake and ensure all children get the strong start they deserve.

This week Gov. Brown neglected early learning again. In his revised budget, he allocated no new money for early education and care, even though there are nearly 200,000 children on wait lists for these programs. The budget must be finalized next month, so we need to deliver 1 million petition signatures to Gov. Brown to show him he's making a huge mistake.

Children in P.S. 117 Joyce Keld/Briarwood School need a more active role in their health and nutrition.

Milpitas City staff want to remove Elan Esprit Enrichment Program and replace it with "recreational classes." Our children's education should be our top priority.

During my life of more than six decades, I've seen and experienced many forms of brutality, both obvious and more subtle. I've seen and experienced brutality from parents toward their own children, the rich toward the poor, one skin color against others, and many other forms. I've also seen the reverse of each one of these and violence in each group against others in the same group. This violence is endemic on individual, group, and institutional levels. Humanity has been brave enough to evolve communication tools that today show us, in real time, the extent of our own brutality. We see up close that the human heart is in pain, and we all know it now! In contemplating this terrible condition I find that the seed of humanity's misery is hidden in the heart. A clear vision communicates that the contemplation of one's heart is where humanity finds the peace that forgives, heals and brings compassion. Therefore, the challenge facing all of us, individually and collectively, adults and children, rich and poor, people of all skin colors, and everyone everywhere is to take the first step toward acknowledging that our heart is in pain before we point the finger at one another. Throughout the centuries, we all have allowed dehumanization, and now it must end. Looking deep within our hearts, we must facilitate listening and dialoguing with others and, especially, our children. To be more exact, this must be the heart of the education process. We know it, and we can make it happen! Please support the creation of a national coalition involving all sectors of the community both public and private for the establishment of a Summer National Community Laboratory Initiative as the venue to do this work.

Perelman Jewish Day School teachers have been unionized for nearly four decades. Suddenly in March the schools board of directors withdrew recognition of the teachers’ union. Neither parents nor teachers had a voice in this decisions. The board met in secret for nearly a year, while refusing to sit down with the teachers’ negotiating team. Conservative Judaism is clear on workers' rights and employee unions. In a 2008 Teshuva, the Rabbinic Assembly ruled that Jewish employers are required to treat employees with respect and dignity, not interfere with union organizing and should hire union employees whenever possible. A school that teaches Jewish values should demonstrate Jewish values as well. The school should immediately reverse course and work with the teachers, rather than attacking them.

Nea and ACLC staff want you to know there’s very little time left to settle our contract for next year.