On Thursday, January 16, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) introduced “The Investing IN States To Achieve Tuition Equity (IN-STATE) for Dreamers Act of 2014”. The bill will provide federal funds to states that offer in-state tuition or state financial aid to undocumented students in their states. High tuition and overwhelming student loan debt can impact any student, but current policies make these problems particularly debilitating for those who are undocumented. Students who graduated high school and grew up in the U.S. deserve a fair shot at attending college here, regardless of their immigration status. An affordable college education is an increasingly vital component to achieving the American Dream—let’s give all students a chance to succeed. You can help by signing this petition and passing it on to your networks. Learn more about the bill here: http://1.usa.gov/1dzdxBL and read and share the word with your network here: http://bit.ly/1k8TqQV

What appears to be missing is national, or local, conversations about preparing students to be emotionally, socially and physically healthy. There are National Health Education Standards that need to be implemented.

In his State of the Union Address, President Obama reaffirmed the importance of early childhood education: "Research shows that one of the best investments we can make in a child's life is high-quality early education. Last year, I asked this Congress to help states make high-quality pre-K available to every 4-year-old. And as a parent as well as a president, I repeat that request tonight." The bipartisan Strong Start for America's Children Act is a landmark bill that will expand universal access to high-quality pre-kindergarten services for all 3- and 4-year-olds, especially kids from low-income families. It will also strengthen quality child care for infants and toddlers. Studies show that children from low-income and underserved communities enter kindergarten already behind their classmates in key areas such as oral language and vocabulary skills. We must close the opportunity gap before it starts: early childhood education is a proven way to ensure that all students have a fair shot at success in school and in life. We need House and Senate leadership to see clear momentum right NOW for this must-pass legislation. Tell your members of Congress: stand with the President and endorse the Strong Start for America's Children Act!

Cutting off groups of students is NOT the solution for saving the "cash-strapped" Lottery Scholarship program! The Lottery Scholarship needs to keep the college dream alive and accessible for our New Mexican students and families, especially for those who are undeserved and come from lower-income communities. Statistics and research clearly demonstrate that vulnerable groups ARE NOT the greatest beneficiaries of the NM Lottery Scholarship Funds. The public needs to keep in mind that increases in GPA and minimum course requirements place a greater strain on students during a crucial transition period from high school to college. A incoming freshmen who earned a B- (2.67 GPA) average their first semester in college would NOT ATTAIN the Lottery Scholarship if the minimum GPA requirement is increased to a 2.75 GPA. Increasing course load requirements will also place a significant strain on students who have to work and go to school. Many of our New Mexican students come from economically struggling households. Many of their families CANNOT support them financially and thus they have no alternative but to work. Is it reasonable then to require all students statewide to now take 5 classes instead of 4? If both GPA and course load requirements are increased, it is expected that we will see up to a 68% FAILURE ATTAINMENT rate for minority students and up to a 75% FAILURE ATTAINMENT rate for students in the lower third income bracket. Let's support (and not penalize) our New Mexican students and families by sending the message loud and clear to power players that we want to keep higher education accessible. Education is a human right and a necessity if we are striving to improve the economy of our state. We know that there is a direct correlation between education level and overall quality of life. Keeping the Lottery Scholarship accessible makes good economic sense for the state of New Mexico.

Legislation proposed to change current law regarding Charter Schools, SB1085, does harm in that it removes or severely limits the oversight of our democratically elected school board members. Specifically: • SB1085 allows “institutions of higher learning” to AUTHORIZE Charter Schools instead of your local school board members. Charter Schools authorized by institutions of higher learning would not have ANY local oversight. • SB1085 allows Charter schools to merge. Once a merger occurs, these entities may petition the Pennsylvania Department of Education for oversight by that Department………..removing all local control. • SB1085 DOUBLES the Charter renewal period from 5 to 10 years. This means that local elected officials must wait twice as long to deny the renewal of Charters for underperforming Charter Schools which could prevent Charter School students from attaining a quality education. • SB1085 establishes a Charter School Funding Advisory Board whose members are STACKED IN FAVOR OF Charter Schools. This board is not tasked to consider the financial impact that Charter Schools have on traditional public schools. Overfunding of Charter Schools, especially Cyber Charter Schools is already causing unnecessary property tax increases and is jeopardizing the financial stability of traditional public schools. Local districts may cease to exist due to the financial burdens imposed upon them (and YOU) by excessive Charter School payments and expedited Charter School Growth. Petition Background It is well known that the current Charter School Law needs to be updated, mainly in the areas of overfunding of Charter Schools, the double dip pension issue, and the many conflicts of interest that are occurring in regard to Charter School Management Corporations. While SB1085 takes some steps in the right direction regarding these issues, THE LEGISLATION MUST NOT PASS IN ITS CURRENT FORM due to the many ways in which the Bill removes YOUR VOICE as a property tax payer in Pennsylvania. PLEASE sign this petition to ensure that YOUR elected local school board officials maintain control over Charter Schools, thus protecting your property tax dollars! Let’s send an urgent message to our legislators! Please sign!

I feel that CMC has taken too much money from big oil and gas to think that they could have an unbiased focus for a sustainability program. Yes, I I was personally affected by by this coalition of big gas and oil and CMC. I formally taught environmental ethics at CMC and was terminated whn my class uncovered a plot, involving the former CMC president, to put a natural gas pumping station on our campus. We exposed this to the public and that project was stopped. The president was terminated, apparently because of this...and so was I for exposing it.

Cami Anderson, who was appointed by Gov. Chris Christie to oversee Newark schools, has proposed a top-down school plan called One Newark. A new Rutgers University study shows that Anderson’s One Newark plan has serious flaws. The schools bearing the brunt of the consequences have a greater share of low-income and black and Latino students. The schools that are being kept open are not used more than the schools slated for closure. And the charter operators that would take over the closed neighborhood schools don’t have a record of achieving better outcomes. The plan reduces students to a test score. Imposing this plan on a community that opposes it is doomed to fail. And the suspension of principals for engaging in dialogue with us shows just how out of touch this plan is. Students, teachers, school support staff, parents and community members are joining together to tell Anderson to stop this plan. She was wrong about suspending the principals. She is wrong about One Newark, too. Let’s take back our schools and reclaim the promise of public education in Newark. Add your voice.

" The massive elimination of school counselors in the Philadelphia School District has left children in desperation without receiving lawful, critically needed services. All counselors need to be restored NOW, so that educational and emotional needs are addressed immediately . The bleeding must stop, before these children end up on life support. SOS! SOS! SAVE OUR STUDENTS ! A mind is a terrible thing to waste." " The lack of critically needed services has already led to the DEATH of a student, do we dare risk MORE lives? "

I am a student at UH Manoa and there is no adequate appropriation for student technology on campus. We constantly battle with the other students to use a computer or to print a paper (which we pay for separately). Our basic needs should be able to be met with the funds that we provide. The budget needs to be re-examined to allow for: computers that don't shut down in the middle of operation, hardware that can read my flash drive, wiring that can sustain a connection to the printer, etc.

My name is Lester Spence. I am an Associate Professor of Political Science and Africana Studies at Johns Hopkins University. I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 1991, and my PhD from the University of Michigan in 2001. I worked hard for both of those degrees. But contrary to stories of “individual initiative,” I know my degrees didn’t come from my hard work alone. Student protest created the Comprehensive Studies Program that accepted me in 1987. Student protest created the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies where I took many of my classes, where I wrote the undergraduate paper in 1989 that led to my first book 22 years later. Student protest led to the hires of every single letter writer I had for grad school. Black students (and their allies) risked their academic careers. Risked their academic careers so years later people like me could find themselves and their purpose. Risked their careers to force the university to live up to its highest principles and values. When I saw that black students at Michigan were forced to protest again, forced to issue demands protestors issued almost thirty years ago, I couldn’t stand by silently. We know what they’re risking. We know what they’re fighting for. Our petition accomplishes two goals: First, the petition tells students they aren’t alone. They have received hate mail and threats. This in addition to the stress they’re already undergoing as students. Second, the university recently named Dr. Mark Schlissel (current Brown University provost) its next President. This petition tells incoming President Schlissel and other university officials that the issue of racial and economic equity are critical concerns they should not ignore. The University of Michigan, like all prestigious institutions, is sensitive to public pressure. Adding your name will turn up the heat on university leadership and further enable students organizing for a Michigan that truly represents the leaders and best. Tell the University of Michigan that it’s time they stand up and support student demands for more racial diversity and more economic support for poorer students.

For decades, the Arab/Muslim community has been either ignored or under-represented culturally, socially and politically, and has been consistently misrepresented by negative stereotypes in film, television and news media. After 9/11 hate crimes against our communities increased astronomically, and surged again after the death of Osama Bin Laden. Through arts and education, youth programs, community services, and effective cultural outreach, we can champion a greater understanding of the Middle East and North Africa. We can also work on conflict resolution programs and peaceful interfaith initiatives that help to advance human progress. In an age of mistrust, tension and turmoil, the arts provide a valuable opportunity to celebrate our common humanity and transcend our differences. Let's join together to increase understanding and appreciation of our cultural diversity.

The research says that opportunity starts young. If you want to help students do better, you have to reach kids 5-years-old and younger. That's why states like Oklahoma make sure every child in the state gets access to a year of free preschool. Here in Massachusetts, more than 40% of 3 to 4 year-olds, some 60,000 kids, aren’t in an early education program. Meanwhile, 30,000 children are on waiting lists for preschool slots. That's not only wrong; it's short-sighted because we know that for every $1 we spend on early education, we save $7 over time. As legislators draft the budget for the next year, it's our chance to make early education a priority. If we want to expand access to preschool, we need to raise our voices now. We'll be meeting with lawmakers on Feb. 4, and every signature we collect makes our case more powerful.