Hydration is essential for everybody. It effects mood, energy, school performance, and your over-all health. Students should not be prevented from fullfilling their health needs.

We're Concerned Parents of Fiske 5th Graders (for 2014/15) - Meredith Ripley - Tama Leventhal

The children in the town currently have no local playground and the playground at Cape May Elementary School is sat waiting to be used! Local residents to Cape May, New Jersey please show your support by signing below this petition to activate Cape May Board of Education into doing the right thing and getting it open before the good weather is here and our children want to let off some energy and have fun nearby. BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE ON THURSDAY APRIL 10, 2014 AT 6PM (ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LIBRARY). PLEASE JOING US TO SHARE YOUR OPINION AND HELP US TO CONVINCE BOARD OF EDUCATION THAT THIS PLAYGROUND IS SO MUCH NEEDED FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS

I am starting this petition because there were protesters outside of my daughter's high school. They had literature with graphic and repulsive images of what were labeled as aborted fetuses which they tried to hand out to any student who passed by. They also tried to engage students in theological discussion about abortion. Again, I am not trying to circumvent their right to express their beliefs, I just feel that this place and time are not appropriate.

Dear Dr. Michael Kirst, Many of us send our children to school every day with the hope that they will be in a safe and secure environment. We send them to school thinking that the best for them is waiting behind school doors, but what if it wasn’t? Sometimes, outgoing and happy children come home feeling sad, irritated, and miserable. And, they tell their parents that they don’t want to go to school anymore and won’t say why. Parents are left guessing what is going on? Indeed, children who fear going to school maybe reacting to being bullied at school. There are several reasons why children get bullied. Sometimes, children are victims of bullying because they are smart and dedicated to their schoolwork. Other times children get bullied because of their personal appearances (too skinny, overweight, and obese). There is also bullying due to racism. Minority children who speak very little English are targeted as well. Some children even end up committing suicide due to bullying that wasn’t able to be stopped. As concerned parents we would like to know why our child is frightened and refuses to go to school. We are proposing that cameras be installed in classrooms and on elementary school campuses throughout California. With evolving technology, security cameras are able to capture both video and audio feed, so no one will be left guessing about who the aggressor is and the number of students who are being targeted. As children are being bullied and victimized by their fellow students, and in some cases teachers and school employees, no person can keep constant watch. As classrooms grow larger, and staff numbers decrease, security cameras within the schools provide the additional sets of eyes that are needed to help protect children while in school. According the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in elementary schools, twice as many ethnic minorities report being bullied because of their ethnicity. While video cameras cannot stop the racism that a person holds inside, these cameras will hold students accountable for their bullying actions. When non-English speaking students are harassed or bullied, they will not have to rely solely on translators to relay the story of what has occurred. These cameras will be the eyes and the ears of the school. These cameras will provide an accurate translation of day’s events, and provide comfort and solace to students and parents who most likely are the victims of school bullying. While no amount of video surveillance can prevent every instance of bullying and harassment in schools, providing these cameras in schools will be a monumental step towards significantly decreasing the harassment and violence that does occur in schools. This is an opportunity for California schools to provide a safer environment and enhance the educational experience for students, educators, and administrators. Sincerely, Alivia, Lindsay, Margot, Kristy and Jessica

Sexual assault is a serious and prevalent issue on college campuses with horrible repercussions. This issue has escalated so much that President Obama recently created a task force to protect students from sexual assault. In order to promote prevention and reduce the number of assaults, we must make students aware of the gravity of this problem and empower them to prevent it.

District 56 is considering cutting the only class of 4K for those who don't qualify by low income or test scores due to the loss of a state grant. My daughter Lena attended this program. Her educational experience in this program was outstanding. This exceptional program is vital for all students. Please sign the petition to fund 4K in District 56!

HB 851, sponsored by Florida state represented Jeanette Nuñez, will allow undocumented students in the state who attend a Florida high school for four consecutive years and enroll in college within two years after graduating high school to receive in-state tuition rates. The bill will help make college more affordable for DREAMers in the state who wish to earn their degree.

The New York State DREAM Act promotes equal access to education by extending eligibility for state financial aid to undocumented immigrants. Children who have grown up in New York and graduated from our high schools are being denied a fair chance. According to state law they are not able to qualify for financial aid, and thus for undocumented children attending college is a financial impossibility. The most common criticism of the bill is that it will take away "our" opportunities. But who is the us? The us that we high schoolers know are the people we grow up with, the peers we study with, and the teammates we play basketball with. Undocumented students are a part of our state. We all go to school together. We, the high schoolers, believe that everyone deserves a fair chance, and it pains us to see any of our classmates denied the same opportunities that we are. Officials estimate that extending financial aid would cost the state under $20 million yearly. That’s how much New York City spends fixing its potholes every five weeks. For a small cost, the New York State DREAM Act could create a more educated population. In the long run this would likely reduce the budget deficit, since the college-educated tend to be less of strain on social support programs and to contribute more in tax revenue. Furthermore, obtaining a college education could be a path to citizenship for many undocumented teenagers, many of whom were brought to the United States as very small children. The DREAM Act passed in the Assembly. It was supposed to go to a vote in the State Senate on April 1st. But on March 17th, the Senate, in a surprise move, took it to the floor—a political maneuver to kill the bill before pro-DREAM supporters had an adequate chance to rally for its cause. The vote—30 yeas and 29 nays—fell just two votes short of the 32 required for passage. But although the State Senate has already voted, the fight for equal access to New York State education is not over. Let’s start not just thinking about fixing our old potholes, but planning for our state’s future. The state budget will be passed this Tuesday, April 1st, and with your support, the DREAM Act will make it in. Check out this video that some students from Hunter College High School in New York City put together, explaining why we support the NY DREAM Act: http://youtu.be/hcLhmzEM5EE.

Increase of use of controlled substances by teachers in publis schools in a Tri-State area which is a direct endangerment of children's lives .

Western New York Schools have lost millions of dollars because of a NYS government policy called the Gap Elimination Adjustment. The policy is crushing school budgets, causing major program and staff cuts. Most local school districts are facing another year of budget shortfalls and will be forced to make additional staffing cuts to their remaining faculty and support staff. Our children and students deserve better.

All students deserve an equal learning opportunity.