The new Staars test is leaving our children behind from grades 3-12. Our motto was once no child should be left behind. In Texas more than 50% of students from 3-12 grade failed half or all of this test. Schools all over the world are full this summer for retaking of the test. Our children are being left behind, we as parents must stand up and do something before its too late.

Oregon voters are hamstrung when it comes to funding schools and other vital services. Under Oregon's Measure 5, an artificial limit on local revenue for schools and services - called “compression” - means that even if voters approve temporary levies to fund their local schools and services, taxes cannot exceed the arbitrary and outdated Measure 5 limits. As a result, schools receive only a fraction of the voter-approved funding. Even worse, neighbors with the same assessed value on their house can pay completely different amounts into the levy. And even worse? A vote to raise funding for, say, the public library can mean a cut in funding for schools or other services. It's absurd. House Joint Resolution 8, a proposed amendment to the Oregon Constitution, would allow voters to approve local option levies above Measure 5 limits to pay for better schools, public safety, health care, and human services. And under HJR 8, these new voter-approved levies would be paid by all property owners equally based on their assessed value. The logic is simple: If voters want to pay for better services, they should be able to have their say at the ballot box and not have arcane laws and arbitrary one-size-fits-all caps stand in the way. Representative Jules Bailey (D-Portland)

After recent devestating storms, Milford's local business need to be a priority over outside, big businesses. Recently, Milford Board of Education gave an out of area, big business, the contract to teach driver's education at our two public high schools, Jonathan Law, and Joseph A. Foran. The big business offered the board more money per student than we did and now they will be potentially taking 80% of business away from our family's top local driving school. Jim Richitelli (whose own kids went through our driving school), told us that we are "very qualified," however, they would not favor our local business since we offered less money per student than the big business offered.

University of Phoenix students spend a lot of money pursuing their degrees and they deserve a quality education that prepares them for the workforce. Students who complete their degrees are more likely to find employment than those who do not graduate. Unfortunately, 60% of University of Phoenix students have withdrawn from classes without completing their studies. Furthermore, 1 in 4 University of Phoenix students default on their student loans. The consequences of defaulting on student loans can be severe and devastating such as garnished wages and damaged credit. These problems could be fixed if University of Phoenix invested more of their profits in education. By putting more money into instruction, support services for students, and instructor retention, University of Phoenix could better meet the needs of its students. Help us tell Congress and state legislators that increasing transparency and accountability in higher education is important because all students deserve a quality and affordable education. If you're a student at the University of Phoenix, please take our online survey and tell us about your experiences: http://action.seiu.org/page/content/for-profit-students/ For more information on our campaign, visit www.forprofitu.org

Philadelphia's schools have been under attack for a long time, but now they're just firing people for the fun of it and to send a threatening message to our unions, students, and parents. I was released today, along with a ton of the people that make our schools work. Tell Pennsylvania representatives that we need funding to survive!

There are so many students that have signed up and wish to continue/begin to learn the French language at LHS. By not re-filling this position the district will be taking away from students' ability to further their education.

UNO charter network, one of the largest charter networks in the city, is under investigation by the state of Illinois and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for misusing public funds and adopting inappropriate practices to grant contracts. Governor Quinn has suspended funding for UNO for the second time this year, but he has not taken any steps to demand a forensic/independent audit for this organization which clearly must be scrutinize. The educational funds for over 7,000 children are in jeopardy, as this organization maintains a "ponzi financial scheme" supported by political and corporate interests. Red de chárter UNO, una de las mayores redes de la charter de la ciudad, está siendo investigado por el estado de Illinois por el mal uso de fondos públicos y adoptar prácticas inadecuadas para otorgar contratos. Unos meses atrás, el estado decidió suspender sus fondos hasta que se lleve a cabo una investigación independiente.

This Tuesday, June 11th, the Kansas State Board of Education will be voting on whether to approve the Next Generation Science Standards, an updated and comprehensive set of standards—developed by 26 states including Kansas—that ensures our students will receive a 21st century science education, which includes learning about climate change. Sadly, climate change deniers in the state legislature are already lining up against these new research-based science standards, even as climate impacts like severe drought and floods have already harmed Kansas agriculture and communities. The Kansas Senate passed a bill that would have stopped the science standards from being adopted, and the Kansas House almost did the same. 



 We will never stop pursuing the high quality of science education that our children so desperately need as they prepare for the challenges and opportunities they will face throughout their lives, until it becomes a reality in Kansas schools. Climate change will have a huge impact on our children’s future, and we need to let the State Board of Education know that Kansas parents, grandparents and science supporters want our kids to learn the facts. Action now is critical so that we can ensure that the Board does right by our kids this Tuesday, June 11th. 

If we act today, our children and grandchildren will thank us tomorrow!

 Sincerely,

 Dennis A. Newell, 2013-14 President Kansas Association of Teachers of Science Erin Flory Robertson Mother & Teacher, Wichita

 Lowell Bliss Father of three children in USD 383 (Manhattan-Ogden)

This petition was started due to very serious concerns with the performance of Principal Torres at Beach School. I am a parent of three students at Beach and in Principal Torres' first year I have witnessed significant deterioration in the school morale and serious doubts arise about the schools ability to deliver quality education under her watch. Beach has a strong, diverse community of involved parents and teachers that have created a school environment which is the envy of many other public schools. In her first year Principal Torres has been a poor communicator, a poor planner, a poor collaborator, and largely disengaged from the teachers, students, and parents that make up the school community. It now appears many teachers will leave the school due to her lack of support and leadership.

Public funding for education in Colorado is at the bottom of the country. This lack of funding has caused significant cuts to be made in our education system leading to larger class sizes, diminished teacher pay and a lack of resources. I am a 29 year old elementary school teacher who just made the choice to leave teaching due to constant district cuts, minimal pay and lack of job security. This lack of funding is forcing quality young teachers out of the classroom and into other professions or keeping potential teachers from going into the profession.

I have struggled to get a degree and have spent the last 25 years unable to obtain a job with my degree and the 21K I borrowed has mushroomed to 55K. I soon will be forced into retirement and they will get 15% of my social security. Millions are in my economic trap.

This is a separate and unequal school district with no public oversight. It took Detroit schools and students, leased both from the emergency manager of DPS, and is a "failing district." Only Black students are in it, and its intended expansion also targets only Black districts. The DPS emergency manager loaned this experimental district $12 million from DPS, which is cash-strapped. I am an elected school board member who hears the cries of students and parents in this Jim Crow district. The district lied on its federal loan application. Return the schools to Detroit and end the EAA. It is destroying the potential of Detroit students.