We the undersigned oppose the plan proposed by Richmond (VA) Public Schools' Board to contract with Teach For America (TFA). Richmond Public Schools claims that TFA teachers will fill vacant posts in our schools. We oppose contracting for teachers in this way because: 1) It is not cost-effective: TFA costs the Richmond Public Schools $5000 per-teacher above the regular salary 2) TFA teachers only receive 5 weeks of training, and have little to no experience working with children of color prior to being accepted in the program. 3) TFA teachers only teach for 2 years, and the turnover makes improving schools even more difficult.

African-American students have become a target in our public schools and victims of implemented "zero tolerance" policies. Unnecessary disciplinary actions discourage high academic expectations and destroys confidence in a learning environment. Excessive punishment generally encourages academic failure and dropping out of school, which more than often leads to arrest. Students who drop out of school, are 3.5 times more likely of getting arrested. This system of pushing kids out of school and into the criminal justice system, disproportionately affects minority students and those with learning differences. Let’s find a better solution to making our schools safe and educate children instead of incarcerating them.

It is time to change Florida State Statues and education funding from the Florida Department of Education to allow Florida Virtual School to administrator State tests instead of having to take kids to zone schools. We shouldn't have to even have a zoned school other than the school we are registered in being Florida Virtual School.

City leaders should know there are a lot of us who 1) want to pay our fair share for a stronger community, 2) want to invest in the future, and 3) don't want to see cuts, but we need a better levy and process. I voted yes for the levy, but a lot of great people I know who want to invest in Columbus public education voted no. I believe my neighbors and I had reasonable concerns that weren't fully addressed, like: lacking a strategic plan to measure success and ensure accountability, including money for charters, and wanting space for community input. People can understand this is complex - poverty is pervasive, state funding has fluctuated greatly, diverse interests mean compromise, etc. - but this past campaign didn't feel honest or accountable to voters. We can do better together!

I spend all day talking about the importance of college to my students. After years of talking up college to my own daughter, she has come to the grim reality that we don't have money for college. My heart broke into a million pieces when she said, "We can't afford college and I'm not smart enough to get a scholarship." How can I send her off to college when I live paycheck to paycheck? How can I fight for a system that excludes my child? Like many others, we will have to make the decision to take out loans and be indebted to a system that has given nothing to hard-working families like ours and other teacher families. Teachers instill in students the importance of higher-education. Our own children should be granted access to higher-education. Federal, State and local officials must find a way to help educate the children of teachers.

When I became a mom, my desire to help create a better world became more personal and urgent. I’ve reflected on the biggest challenges my two sons will face. Doing something about climate change rose to the top of my list. I knew I had to add it to my job description as a responsible parent! Now that one of my sons has started school, I’ve begun thinking a lot more about what they will be taught about their world, including climate change. So I was heartened to learn that the Michigan State Board of Education is considering adoption of 21st century science standards that include climate science. The Board is being pressured to reject the new, world-class science standards by climate deniers like Rep. Tom McMillin (R-District 45). Rep. McMillin recently introduced a bill to stop the NGSS from being taught because, as he said, the standards “get into controversial issues such as man-made global warming as fact.” Keeping our kids in the dark about climate change would be an outrageous and unacceptable disservice to their future. At a time when impacts like drought, more intense storms, and heat waves have already begun to take a toll on Michigan agriculture and the Great Lakes, it’s more important than ever for Michigan students to gain a strong understanding of the causes and impacts of climate change. This will give them the foundation to identify the solutions we need. Let’s send the State Board of Education a strong message that we want our kids to have access to the best possible science education to help them address the challenges and opportunities they will face throughout their lives. If we act today, our children and grandchildren will thank us tomorrow! Sincerely, Kate Madigan, mother of two, 
Traverse City, MI Story on Rep. McMillin anti-NGSS bill: http://ncse.com/news/2013/09/anti-ngss-bill-introduced-michigan-0015053

We support a return to excellence in California Schools. Top performing states spend $16,000 - $22,000 per student per year. California’s goal - for 2021 - is to spend less than half that amount per student. Meanwhile, California spends $60,000 per year per prison inmate, and one-half of our inmates are high school dropouts. Since 1980, we’ve built 19 prisons and 1 university.

My Grandchildren attend New Castle Schools, and their current cafeteria workers give good caring service. Why break something if it is not broken.

The population of gifted students in Pace has exploded, and the school district's response is to reduce the time spent in the program specifically designed to challenge them. Isn't it the responsibility of an educational institution to provide the foundation to allow ALL children to reach their maximum potential? The gifted program needs not only to be protected, but expanded. The decision to reduce the class time for these children needs to be changed so that ALL children are provided what they need to succeed.

On October 29th, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Alderman Roberto Maldonado (26th ward) announced that Logan Square's Ames Middle School is going to become a military academy -- despite more than a year of local parents' protests. Elected officials failed to talk to parents of Ames about the plan, then ignored the families who have spoken out against this takeover. 87% of families surveyed in the Ames community said they did not want a military high school. If the takeover goes through, children at Ames will have a military curriculum, elevating military programs at the expense of extracurriculars like music, sports, and art. But there's still time to reverse this decision -- it has to be approved by the Chicago Board of Education. Add your name now to support families in Logan Square who do not want Ames to become a military academy.

Inadequate state funding has caused children in our public schools to face unprecedented cuts to educational programs and increases in class sizes. Higher education has become less affordable and less accessible for college students as state funding for PASSHE universities has been slashed. We need Governor Corbett to make investing in public education his top priority to ensure a bright future in Pennsylvania for us all.

I am a teacher at a MCPS. I am very familiar with the amount of capital and human resources administering the Maryland State Assessment requires. Even though MD is switching over to the Common Core State Standards, which will be assessed by PARCC, the state is planning to administer the MSA this year. Our testing coordinators have literally been told the scores won't be looked at or matter. If this is the case, it is an irresponsible waste of taxpayer money and instructional time to administer this test.