*This petition refers to all UNC system schools!* Governor Pat McCrory has only been in office for two weeks, and already he wants to dismantle some of the most highly-regarded education programs in the nation. In an interview January 29, he took aim at UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina's flagship university and one of the best in the country. Specifically, he said, "I think some of the educational elite have taken over our education where we are offering courses that have no chance of getting people jobs," referring to liberal arts courses. If someone wants to take a course such as "gender studies," he said, "go to a private school and take it." I was an English major, one of the so-called "educational elite" majors to which McCrory is referring. I became a teacher and helped kids in North Carolina go to college themselves. Our so-called "subsidized" Gender Studies program McCrory wants to nix has staffed students in rape crisis centers, research centers, NGO work, businesses, and law offices, among other places. Liberal arts courses don't *train* students, they *educate* them, preparing them to think critically, adapt to new situations, communicate effectively, and innovate--all skills the next generation needs in this ever-changing economy. McCrory himself has a liberal arts degree, which apparently enabled him to become Governor! We need to stand up this hypocrisy now and protect the valuable institution we have at UNC, before we become an assembly line rather than a school. Source of the quotes: http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/mccrory_wants_to_revamp_higher_ed_funding_takes_aim_at_uncchapel_hill#storylink=cpy

Our State passes the Charter Schools Initiative by a narrow margin. This petition calls on the governor and legislators to require that administrative costs be not for profit and do not exceed 3 % of all cash received. 97% of the funding received should go to Teachers, Instructional Assistants, Counselors, Custodians, supplies, building maintenance & utilities costs support our students education.

In the last session of the Texas legislature, the legislature cut $5.4 million dollars in education funding. This is resulting in the quality of education that our children should have.

Petition to end privatization of Public Education in Pennsylvania.

Missouri is holding our children back by keeping our children from enrolling in kindergarten if they are not 5 before July of the up coming school year! My child is advanced and ready for kindergarten after 2 years of preschool, but since she was not born until 2 months after the school year starts, they will not let her enroll. She has to play for another year in preschool instead of moving to kindergarten to learn, I cant afford private school! Other states extend the date to December 31st, lets get our children educated!

I am an associate professor at Clayton State University who has not received a raise from the state since 2008.

This petition is to speak out and let our state officials know that we do not want Charter schools here in our state, but we want them to come up with more ways to help fund our public schools which are here now and serving our communities. I have two children in a district which has been taken over by the state. Although my children are honor roll students and could be accepted into one of these charter schools if one where to be opened in this area, that would not help the rest of our students who wouldn't be able to attend these schools. So where would that leave us as a whole community? Divided with no over all solution to a bigger problem.

We look at education as a 'cost' rather than what it is; an investment in the future for our children.

Newport News Public schools is considering eliminating weekly collaborative planning time for Elementary schools. This time is vital to ensure that the many new and veteran teachers have time to work collaboratively to create lessons that challenge and engage all students.

I'm currently a senior at the Boston Latin School, the oldest public school in the nation. Many of my fellow classmates, including myself, received the John and Abigail Scholarship which covers tutuition for any public state college in Massachusetts. My parents were so happy for me, until they found out that the scholarship only covers 7.5% of all costs. Tuition is frozen at any state school, but fees are drasitically rising. How are students supposed to get a decent job if they cant afford a decent, quality education? The John and Abigail Scholarship is just one of many of these kinds of scholarships around the United States. We need the current legislature to do something about this- have the scholarship cover fees AND tuition, or just fees, or have the scholarship even cover private schools as well. Please help!

Our public schools are staggering under massive state budget cuts. Students in Pennsylvania have lost almost 20,000 of their teachers in the past two years. Our kids have lost music, art, library, languages, tutoring programs, full-day kindergarten and more. Our children are sitting in classes with 35 and even 39 students. In 2007, the state Legislature's own study found it was underfunding pubic education (especially in poorer school districts) by more than $4 billion and committed Pennsylvania to a six-year plan to fix the problem. But in 2011, the Legislature shamefully betrayed that commitment and cut close to $1 billion from our schools. Then last year, the governor and Legislature locked in those cuts for a second year, compounding the damage. And this year, even with a small increase in funding, Gov. Corbett proposes to mostly continue the compounded cuts while threatening to tie any increase to the pension crisis and alcohol sales, rather than providing leadership to find real solutions to this issue. This cannot stand. Public education is a public good. We need adequate, equitable, and sustainable funding for public education now! More info: yinzercation.wordpress.com

I heard that Jerry Brown wants to save money by phasing out in class learning in the UC, Cal State, and California Community College systems, replacing it with online learning. I just got a Ph.D,, so I am trying to get a job as a professor, so I want jobs open for me. In addition, students who have to learn in an online only format cannot build the personal relationship that they need to with professors. While online learning can supplement in class learning, online learning should not replace in class learning.