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.

Currently, in Shelby County High Schools, there is no comprehensive sexual education. This is a problem, because the teen pregnancy rate among girls 15-17 in Shelby County is 36.7/1000 and that hurts graduation rates.

I work in immigration reform and I see a lot of good people being hurt by local and federal policies whose sole aim is to hurt people. In the late 1890s, Michigan's population was more than 50% foreign born, Michigan was made by DREAMERs and this @OCCollege policy does not reflect the spirit of Michigan.

CPS is at it once again! They are coming after our neighborhood schools... our kids' place of learning and handing it over to a private charter school operation. CPS calls the process "turnaround." It is anything but that. It is simply another word for closing our schools. A University of Chicago study showed turnarounds and other dramatic school transformations result in a younger, whiter teaching force. This happens just a few days after parents, teachers, and students stood up to CPS by opting out of the meaningless ISAT. Gresham Elementary in the Auburn-Gresham community, Dvorak Technology Academy in North Lawndale and McNair Elementary in Austin will be turned over to the privately run Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL), which CPS Board President David Vitale once headed. Tell CPS that we have had enough of closures, turnarounds, charters, military academies, and underfunded and overcrowded schools.

While the school board recognizes the high quality of programs at Wiscasset Adult & Community Education, they are not interested in continuing to support it as is in the new Wiscasset School District. What does this mean? Over 100 enrichment courses available each year GONE Office Assistant, Medical Secretary, Accounting Clerk, Dental Assitant, Clinical Medical Assistant, Microsoft Office Specialist, and many other certificate programs GONE Career Pathways services available at no charge, such as assessments, career decision making, advising, individual learning plans, etc. GONE 45 college students who take their classes through ITV in Wiscasset will now have to drive to campus in Augusta or Brunswick 30 adults who would have earned a high school diploma will have to find someplace else to do this, along with the 75 other students who are working towards earning their high school credential In total, over 1,500 course enrollments that would happen at Wiscasset Adult & Community Education from midcoast residents will be lost. With a town population of about 3,000 people, this program has a wide impact throughout the midcoast. If you live in the region, but are not a Wiscasset resident, these lost opportunities will affect you or someone you know. What can you do? Voice your support for adult education in Wiscasset online at MoveOn.org or Causes.org. You don't need to be a resident to do this. Tell us why adult education is important to you! In addition, if you are a Wiscasset resident, speak to a school board member directly about your support for adult learning opportunities. Tell them how you want your tax dollars spent. Contact: Glen Craig, Chair Steven Smith, Vice Chair Eugene Stover Colleen Bennett Sharon Nichols As always, please don't hesitate to contact us with questions or comments. Call (207) 882-9710 or email [email protected]. Thank you for your support! UPDATED FIGURES Wiscasset Adult & Community Education is requesting $65,599 (down from original request of $90,000) in local taxes to support a $292,000 program. Without adult education, the district will also lose more than $90,000 in state subsidy that directly supports the k-12 schools.