In the last year there have been over 3,000 veteran teachers terminated. Many of these teachers pay into the pension system. Of the over 50 schools closed and 6 turn-arounds, 90% of the schools closed last year and 99% of the schools closed in previous years have been in the African American communities on the South and West Sides. In the last 4 years at least 6,000 African American teachers have lost employment. In addition, since these firings were spontaneous many teachers were left with the only option of survival, pulling their pensions down. Most of these teachers were near retirement will never be able to accumulate substantial years of service again. Hardest hit by this crisis are single parent educators. The option for paying back into the pension fund and buying back years of services is that teachers will work in reciprocal systems in the State of Illinois for two years to buy their pensions back. Many teachers have reported trying to get jobs but cannot be rehired by CPS or any other reciprocal system. Many have the money to pay back but cannot find work for two years to fill the requirement under the pension contract. We are asking that if teachers have the monies and are able to pay back, that they would be allowed to do so without working in a reciprocal system for two years. We would like teachers to have that option of buying back their pension since jobs in these reciprocal systems are virtually non-existent for thousands of veteran teachers.

I am one of many parents who struggle to provide their children with the best education possible. When there is an attempt to cancel a positive program like the Academy, which was created to further our children's education, we as parents need to stand up and say NO! Our children's education should be our top priority, and any attempt to cut positive steps toward meeting that goal should be stopped.

It’s unacceptable that this money is being withheld from our cash strapped school system. Act before another child dies. Last week, a 12 year old died of an asthma attack in a school didn’t have a nurse.* Because of Philly budget cuts, her schools’ nurse is only there two days a week. That means that if a child is ill they cannot see a nurse during the other three days. As a parent, I know some things cannot wait that long. It meant there was no one there to deal with this child’s emergency. Philly schools have had drastic budget cuts. This year they closed 23 schools, laid off staff and have not given the teachers what they need to succeed. And the resources are so bare bones that it means our children are not safe. What makes the situation even worse is that because of these budget cuts, there aren’t enough counselors to deal with children’s grieving classmates after a tragedy like this occurs. As the parent of a 5-year-old who plans to send my daughter to a public school in the coming years, I find this heartbreaking and unacceptable. When my daughter goes to public school, they need to have the resources to keep my daughter safe no matter what, in body and in mind. We cannot allow this to happen in our schools. We cannot allow this to happen to our children. Governor Corbett is withholding $45 million that could be used to put nurses and counselors back in schools. This money is vital to keeping children safe. We must demand that Corbett put money back into Philly schools before another child is harmed. *http://citypaper.net/article.php?He-says-his-daughter-might-be-alive-if-not-for-school-nurse-cuts-16461

This petition is to formally oppose the new proposed Elementary School Attendance areas presented by Dr. Holden at NFHS on 10-8- 2013. The proposal would shift the Springfield neighborhood from Springfield Elementary School to Fort Mill Elementary School.

9/25/2013 PETITION: Florida law (Section 1003.21 (a) 2. To whom this may concern, On behalf of our daughter Nevaeh Martin and every other ineligible, but well qualified kindergartners in the state of Florida we petition that the cutoff date to start kindergarten be changed from its current date of September 1 back to the original cutoff date of December 1. On September 24, 2013 we were called in for a meeting at KIPP Jacksonville and during that meeting we were told that our 5 year old daughter Nevaeh H. Martin who had already been attending the school for a period of 8 weeks was no longer eligible to be in Kindergarten and that she could no longer attend the school due to Florida Statue 1003.21 (a) 2. In the state of Florida the requirement to attend Kindergarten according to Statute (1003.21(a) 2. A child must turn 5 years old before or on September 1st. In reality this Statute would set children back a year who does not meet these requirements, whether they are performing on or above Kindergarten level. Unfortunately although our daughter is performing above grade level her birthday falls on September 2nd which makes her ineligible for Kindergarten by one day. Can you imagine how hard it was to tell our daughter that she could no longer attend her school, dress in her uniform with pride, play with her class mates, recite her college chants during community meetings or work with her teachers with whom she not only adapted to but also impacted with her presence and leadership while in class. We are petitioning that Florida Statute (1003.21)(a)2 be revised back to the original 1980 Statute of December 1st which requires a child to turn 5 years old on or before December 1st. We are also petitioning that Florida lawmakers consider that some 5 year olds are more advanced than other children their age and to determine this fact an aptitude test could be conducted to measure the actual comprehension level of all 5 year olds before considering them eligible or ineligible for Kindergarten. In closing, we ask that you consider this petition as it would give all 5 year old children who are performing on or above grade level the opportunity to attend Kindergarten and remain in their rightful grade. We are firm believers that education is the key to success and no children should be left behind or treated unequally. Respectfully submitted, Mr. and Mrs. Sharrieff Martin

Every day I walk my nephews to school at Hunters Glen Elementary and too many motorists are not paying attention to the road or are driving too fast in a school zone. This is a serious issue because our children could be injured or worse, fatally struck by a moving vehicle if we do not secure the resources we need to keep them safe. Please show your support by signing this petition today so that we can show the Fort Bend Independent School District that we are serious about keeping our children safe.

PASS ERIN’S LAW at the federal level. Erin's Law, is a bill that requires that children be educated by law in schools on sexual abuse in a child friendly manner, for the purpose of informing and protecting students from sexual abuse. It has passed in 8 states but not yet Ohio. Passed: Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Arkansas, and Mississippi 14 more states are introducing Erin's Law 2013-2014 30% of sexual assualt survivors report the assault. OHIO LAWS http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/08/sr/statelaws/statelaws.shtml#Ohio Engaging in sexual conduct with someone less than 13 years of age is illegal regardless of the age of the defendant (unless the defendant and victim are married and living together).[589] Sexual conduct with someone who is at least 13 years of age and less than 16 years of age is illegal if the defendant is at least 18 years of age and not the victim’s spouse

We, the students of Italian 101, section 015 have the following grievances: The cost of the textbook was disclosed, that being said, the access codes were not included in all textbooks (sealed without one), cornering many students into relying on purchasing the access code online at over 50% the cost of the almost $200 textbook. This access code allows for one semester of access to a very buggy learning program that will have to be purchased again next semester, making this financial entrapment. The Access code grants access to a less than useful interface that students have not even been able to use to the fullest of it’s miniscule capabilities due to an incompatibility issue with the school computers that the language department should have rectified prior to the beginning of the semester. Many students are familiar with the necessity to check for compatibility prior to installing/using a computer program/site for one's own personal use, so this great lapse in judgment, reminiscent of the Cuny First debacle, along with a failure to communicate the issue and the steps being taken to rectify it, give the impression of disrespect, rudeness and a general disregard for students that are serious about their academic careers. As students, and individuals who have or have not been through careers prior to returning to school, we have also noticed the obvious disregard for the professors who are doing their best to try to deal with this despite the lack of support from the language department. Some of us have been seen to do more to assist the professors than the Language Department has cared to do, Including and not limited to: 1. Giving the professors a run down of the materials needed to carry out their jobs 2. Explaining whom is responsible for providing students with a syllabus 3. Providing adequate Tech support 4. Carrying out necessary troubleshooting when a program or system requires rectification 5. COMMUNICATING the acknowledgement any of the above mentioned issues (or any other issue that may effect our student careers) and are working towards fixing it. (Thank you to all the students that offered their help, free of charge, despite that not being your responsibility and the fact that someone else is getting paid to do that…) The failure to communicate has also created a lapse in time that the students cannot regain. While many of us wanted to give this course a chance, it will now be costly for us to drop the course. This is not how the students should be rewarded for their patience with the language department. We, the students demand better communication from the Language department (the irony is flabbergasting!) and viable options to assist us in making the best choice for our academic careers.

I am a graduate of the CFPA Program in Creative Writing. It taught me everything I know about writing and allowed me to follow my passion when I was only 14. I discovered not only who I was as a person while studying there, but also that my voice was valuable and powerful. Creative writing is a unique art in that what we learn from it will follow us our whole lives. With the constant testing and standardization in English classrooms, creative writing classes are an essential place where students can come to understand that writing can heal us and enchant us--it is an art that makes us human and should have as much attention as any other art form. Please sign this petition to save the CFPA Creative Writing Program, and pass it on to anyone who believes that our students deserve better than this.

I am a victim of child molestation. My brother was a victim, as well. As a result of being molested, my brother made decisions that have led to his recent murder. We must protect our children at all costs! Child molestation MUST be prevented!

In response to community input, Delmont and Mayfair were reconfigured by the EBRPSS for the 2013-2014 school year. The community’s response could not have been better. When doors opened in August, both schools were at capacity and reports from parents have been overwhelmingly positive. In spite of this auspicious start, public comments by Superintendent John White indicate the state is poised to take over these schools. Such a takeover would: >> be in direct contradiction to the spirit of the law governing reconstitution; >> not improve educational outcomes for the children of these schools or for the children of EBRPSS in general; >> be a subversion of local control and the will of the people; and >> be an unfair seizure of assets paid for by local taxpayers. >> A state takeover of these schools is in direct contradiction to the spirit of the law governing reconstitution.<< Under current law, when a school is deemed failing by the state’s controversial accountability system, a local school system has four years to turn the “failing” school around. If local officials decide to reconstitute the school—reconfigure its program in an attempt to better address the students’ and community’s needs—the school is typically issued a new site code and it is given four more years to determine if the new reconfigured program is successful. Currently, the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) provides no explicit criteria for reconstitution plans. According to Barry Landry of the LDOE, this is intentional. As he explains, “there is no rubric spelled out in policy for the reconstitution plan. This allows schools and districts – those closest to the students – the flexibility to make decisions to create a plan they feel is best to present to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.” The reconstitution plans submitted by the EBR School Board—those closest to the students, were designed with the needs of students and the community in mind. Mayfair Middle was turned into Mayfair Laboratory School. Its new program is modeled after the highly successful and well-regarded LSU Laboratory School. In response to parent and community input during neighborhood meetings, Delmont was turned into a PreK-Kindergarten Center. Though EBRPSS reconfigured the schools in response to its community’s needs, Supt. White refuses to issue new site codes for Mayfair and Delmont and has reiterated that these schools are eligible for takeover. His decision to deny the EBRPSS new site codes appears to be arbitrary and capricious. St. Landry Parish’s reconstitution plan for one of its schools was approved during the same time period. >> A state takeover will not improve the educational outcomes at these schools or for the children of EBRPSS in general.<< When the state takes over a school in Baton Rouge, BESE gives the school to the Recovery School District of Louisiana (RSD-LA) to manage. The RSD-LA’s stated purpose is to identify a quality charter operator to run the school. Unfortunately, there is no factual evidence to suggest those students will be better served by the RSD-LA or the charter operators it brings in. In fact, there is some compelling evidence that the education offered these students will be worse. After the RSD-LA took control of seven schools in north Baton Rouge in 2008-09 and created the Baton Rouge Achievement Zone, the school performance scores of a majority of those schools dropped. In recent years, it has been difficult to find information on these school’s performance scores. That’s because the schools have continually performed so badly, they have not been given a score but repeatedly reconstituted. Another measure of a school’s performance is parent and student satisfaction. Here, too, the evidence reflects badly on the quality of the education offered in the RSD’s Baton Rouge Achievement Zone. Parents and students have continued to abandon the RSD direct run and charter schools. The RSD currently controls seven school buildings that accommodate approximately 6000 seats. It now serves fewer than 2000 students. More than 4000 of the students have chosen to attend schools still run by EBRPSS. Baton Rouge parents do not see the RSD as a viable option for their children. The failure of the RSD to attract students has serious consequences for the EBRPSS and the children who attend its schools. Because EBRPSS has lost 6,000 desks in seven school buildings as a result of these state takeovers but has retained over 4,000 of the students who used to sit in them, its schools are overcrowded and its finances are strained. EBRPSS must spend money on temporary buildings and other infrastructure needs in order to serve these additional students while desks sit empty in the RSD. The result is that it is even more challenging for our local schools to serve their students at a time when they are being held to even higher accountability standards putting even more schools at risk of state takeover. In short, our schools are being set up to fail in order to increase the number of schools the state can seize from local control. >> A state takeover is a subversion of local control and the will of the people.<< All of the schools in the Baton Rouge Achievement Zone are charter schools. Charter schools in the Zone are not subject to the control of a local school board. This means that when parents have exhausted avenues among the charter’s administration and board, there is not a locally elected official to whom they can go to address their needs. A recent poll conducted on behalf of Louisiana Public Broadcasting for a show on charter schools by Louisiana Public Square indicates that while Louisiana residents approve of charter schools, nearly 70% of them want charter schools to be controlled by a local school board. Parents from both Delmont Pre-K–Kindergarten Center and Mayfair Lab School have pleaded with BESE representatives to allow their programs to continue, but there has yet to be an assurance...

Trying to reduce BCCS student homework load.