Schools have been mandated to use the Common Core Learning Standards. They are not required to use EngageNY for curriculum. They are allowed to develop their own curriculum as long as they align it with Common Core.

Cami Anderson, the Christie-appointed Superintendent of Newark Public Schools, is escalating her attack on OUR public schools. This time she is attempting to further destabilize schools and neighborhoods by destroying the relationships between students and our teachers - dedicated teachers that we rely on to help build a strong foundation for our future. Cami is requesting permission from state Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf to use a “waiver or equivalency” to fire hundreds of education workers with no consideration for seniority or tenure. Yes, this shreds the basic rights of union workers, but in the teaching profession it also hurts students like us who rely on stable relationships with experienced and professional school staff. Research proves that high turnover rates in schools hurt students, especially the children of working class families who are already economically disadvantaged. And let us be clear, Anderson’s One Newark plan and her attack on Newark’s public schools disproportionately targets low-income, working-class communities and communities of color. Anderson desperately needs this waiver to remove tenured teachers so she can fill a $100 million budget shortfall over the next three years that SHE CREATED by hiring hundreds of inexperienced TFA teachers to push older, higher paid teachers out of their schools, and by promoting the expansion of charter schools that funnel money out of traditional public schools. She figures that if she can get rid of the highest paid education workers – who earned that higher pay through years of dedicated work on behalf of our fellow students, then she can fill much of that budget gap, AND eliminate unionized workers at the same time. Her Christie-appointed colleague, Commissioner of Education Christopher Cerf, is expected to approve her request…just days before he leaves his post on March 5th. How convenient. As students in Newark Public Schools, our teachers influence and support extends far beyond what is in text books. Our teachers and school staff have spent countless hours of their lives advising, teaching, and simply talking with us during our lunchtimes, after school, at sporting events, plays, concerts, college days, and MANY other school related activities. The proof of their work is clearly evident in all of the data. Newark Public Schools met the standards for gaining local control from the nearly two-decade long occupation set by the state QSAC rubric, a measure established by the state to protect their control over our schools. After meeting those standards the state moved the goal post in order to maintain control and prevent Newark’s communities from having a voice in our schools. It is clear that Christie’s control over our schools is not out of concern for academic achievement or student success – it is an attack on Newark’s working-class communities and an effort to turn public money and public necessities into private profit. Anderson has a vision for Newark’s schools. Privatize the system, socialize the costs, and subject students to inexperienced Teach For America (TFA) teachers working for poverty wages under dictatorial conditions. This is not fair to dedicated teachers who have given decades of their lives to Newark’s students. This is not fair to us - the students - who rely on their training, knowledge and experience as teachers and educators to help us build the foundations we need in our lives to be successful. This is not fair to Newark’s communities, to our city or to our future. Kristin Towcaniuk & Jelani Walker Newark Students Union & NJ Communities United Members

Less than half of California's kids are enrolled in preschool. That's a huge problem, because by her 5th birthday, 90% of a child's brain is developed. So when she steps into a classroom for the first time as a kindergartner, she is already 10 steps behind her peers who went to preschool - and she may never catch up. Prek graduates are better prepared for academic and lifetime success, while at-risk youth who don't go prek are 25% more likely to drop out of high school and 70% more likely to commit a crime and become incarcerated. The decision is up to Gov. Brown - will California invest in high-quality early education for every child or will California perpetuate the school-to-prison pipeline?

Administration of this meaningless test means students will lose hours of valuable classroom instruction time, disrupting as many as ten school days. The ISAT is not used for any valid purpose and will not be given after the 2013-2014 school year. CPS plans to force this test on students at the same time that students also are required to take NWEA MAP tests, new Interim Benchmark Tests, REACH Performance Tasks, ACCESS tests, NAEP tests, pilot Common Core tests and more. Over-testing of students has come with real costs to their education. Students need fewer tests and more access to arts, languages and a broad, rich curriculum. Students need meaningful and educationally appropriate assessments, not more standardized tests. The concerns of parents and educators have been ignored for too long! We support the parents, teachers and students who have taken action for better schools and against over-testing.

A college education today is no longer a guarantee into the job market but is considered mandatory by many employers so it is of utmost importance that we provide the new generation with the necessary tools to make college more of a reality. Almost every accredited university requires an applicant to take either the ACT or SAT tests, sometimes both, yet preparation classes for these exams are time consuming and costly, presenting an injustice when students are not able to afford these extracurricular luxuries. Currently there is a problem of systemic discrimination in college admittance processes, specifically to do with standardized aptitude testing. This petition for in-school mandatory SAT/ACT and college preparatory classes is not about catering specifically to the entrance exams. More than that, it is about preparing disadvantaged, low-income, and minority students for whatever exams, essays, and applications that they will need to have an in-depth understanding in order to compete for college entry. The test prep industry rakes in $1 billion annually with expert classes, such as Kaplan, offered at $300. If a student cannot afford to pay for test prep books and classes that are privately offered, then they cannot equally compete with other students who have a leg up on the competition. The purpose of this petition is to help level the playing field and give every student an equal opportunity to be prepared for the college application process. This is not to say that every student be required to enroll in these prep classes, but that each public high school be required to at least offer the course as an elective so that each student may choose if they wish to enroll or not. Please join us in signing this petition to promote educational equality and give the future generation the resources they require to make a difference.

Since taking office in 2011, Gov. Corbett has expanded tax breaks for corporations and the energy industry while cutting $1 billion from education statewide. Under his leadership alone, 24 schools have been closed, and 4,000 teachers and school support staff have been laid off. Take a stand right now and send a letter to the governor demanding that he restore and protect public education for all.

A decade ago, New York led the nation by allowing undocumented students to pay instate tuition rates at its public universities. Now, we have the opportunity to make greater progress on this issue by giving these students access to state financial aid. This will allow more students to attend college, graduate, and reach their full potential. Earlier this week, Governor Cuomo stated he would sign the NY Dream Act if it reached his desk. Today, the NY State Assembly passed the bill. Now, we have to pressure the NY State Senate to do the same. Tell the NY State Senate: Pass the NY Dream Act now!

The children in the ITALC class (room 108 and 109) are being forcefully removed from Francis Scott Key. The students in both classrooms are the most severely disabled in the entire school district. The ITALC program is the only program in the city that supports the needs of our children. It gives them the opportunity to communicate through electronic devices, because they are unable to communicate in any other form. The children will no longer have a class that meets their needs. The ITALC is the only form of education that our children can receive. The school district is treating these children as second class citizens by trying to take the rights to go to school and receive the special education that they deserve and need. Please sign and support this petition and forward to your friends, families and coworkers. Thank You, From the parents in rooms 108 and 109!

Tallahassee republican politicians have proposed that the Holmes County schools concentrate on funneling our children into low paying blue collar jobs, the jobs that disappearing the fastest to automation. I believe that our children are equally capable of being the future leaders of our nation and our commerce and culture just as they are any other place in these United States, and they should not be hindered nor diverted by any deliberate truncation or modification of their educations for this purpose.

In a time when record numbers of students are applying for admission to colleges and universities, LS students are at a disadvantage due to the school's policy of not reweighting GPAs to reflect the rigor of coursework offered at the school. Students are less competitive with their peers in many neighboring communities that do reweight their GPA, and they are often ineligible for merit scholarships that are based soley on GPA and test scores. Its time to give our students the recognition they deserve for the rigorous coursework they complete in high school. It's time to reweight GPAs.

After my sons incident and meeting other mothers who have dealt with this horrible experience we are determined to make a change! I also want to protect the teachers who are wrongfully accused. NOT all teachers are "monsters". I will continue to go to school board meetings, media, and etc to address this issue. I was told having cameras in classrooms is a "Privacy" issue I strongly agree with this comment I read from an article : " Any privacy issue should override the safety of our children"- Tara H We are a small group of strong mothers that are in it to win it! Please help us with this journey and sign!

Nine (12% of) Grade 12 students have just been expelled for personal possession or consumption of a prohibited substance on a school trip. For all of them this was a first offence. This expulsion came just weeks before final exams. They are now unable to complete High School exams, nor the IB, nor graduate from High School. Most of them had university offers which they now have to forego. What these students did was wrong and we, their parents, agree they should undergo consequences and learn from their foolish mistake. The ISK High School Handbook stipulates the following consequential options for this type of violation: 'in-school or at-home suspension; social/behavioural probation; in-school or external counselling; recommendation of expulsion'. ISK chose expulsion for all nine students who were caught. We think this punishment is disproportionate to the violation, and does not provide any value in terms of educational development for our children. One foolish mistake or bad choice and any ISK teenager could face the same lasting consequences. Please show your opposition to ISK's decision to expel the nine High School students by signing this petition. If you can, please leave a comment saying if you are an ISK parent, an educationalist etc.