Multiple research studies have shown that New York State ranks as one of the very worst of the 50 states in funding fairness. The poorest school districts, both rural and urban, cannot meet the basic educational needs of their students. At the same time, schools in more affluent areas offer extensive programs.

Pass the Oil Extraction Tax

Upper education is bankrupting parents and students. It's time to make this part of education system in Alabama. Other states are doing this And keeping their best and brightest at home after graduation. This will benefit the state on so many levels. Lets do it!!!

Student loan debt is out of control. Individuals are unable to pay back the government for a variety of reasons. One way to help both students and the government is to cap the interest rate at low and reasonable percent.

FAFSA helps many students and some who honestly dont deserve it. In order to tell you what needs to be changed I must tell you my story. I am 22 years old and have been turned down numerous times because I can not provide my parents information. I left my house when I was seventeen because my mother was extremely abusive and have not spoken to her since. I grew up without a father, not even knowing his name. When I file for FAFSA they say I must provide my parents information and the only way that can be bypassed is if I am legally emancipated by court or married because that automatically makes me an adult. I have lived and provided for myself since I was 14 and I do not need a court to tell me what I already know. I know of many students whose parents lie on their FAFSA applications and get money that their parents can afford to pay. It's not fair that those who really need the help get turned down and all that is said is " I am sorry, many kids come in with this case but there is nothing I can do!" Please help me and other kids that can not get an education because the rules do not favor each and every realistic circumstance possible.

The people of 77 the 83 counties in Michigan voted successfully to repeal Michigan’s Emergency Manager Law. Governor Rick Snyder and the extremist-controlled Michigan legislature are now attempting to circumvent the will of the people by passing new legislation that is every bit as unconstitutional, anti-democratic, and vile as the law the people have just rejected. The proposed bill, HB 6004 “Educational Achievement Authority," violates our State Constitution and will substitute unelected bureaucrats with dictatorial powers for local, duly elected representatives of the people. Tell Governor Snyder and the Michigan Legislature to vote no on any legislation that attempts to circumvent the will of citizens who voted to repeal PA 4, the Emergency Manager Law.

Our educated men and women are buried in debt by student loans. We should encourage education and not punish it. Our communities will benefit if money and services go back into our communities and not just to the banks.

This petition is about New York city teachers that Mayor Bloomburg has been victimizing because the teachers did not support him in his third coming. The mayor gave sweeping mandate to high school principals to rate the experienced teachers unsatisfactory so they can be branded incompetent. In so doing, the DOE can terminate these categories of teachers' employment.

Making sure that teens stay in school to obtain a better education for their future

Corruption is an ongoing problem that has been having an adverse effect on student achievement in urban schools for many years.

Dear Mr. President: You and Secretary Arne Duncan—endorsed in your efforts by Newt Gingrich, Paul Ryan, and a host of reactionary politicians and pundits—now bear a major responsibility for a toxic agenda of “school reform.” The three most trumpeted and simultaneously most destructive aspects of the united “school reform” agenda are these: 1) turning over public assets and spaces to private management; 2) dismantling and opposing any independent, collective voice of teachers; and 3) reducing education to a single narrow metric that claims to recognize an educated person through a test score. While there’s absolutely no substantive proof that this approach improves schooling for children, it chugs along unfazed. Race to the Top is but one example of incentivizing bad behavior and backward ideas about education: It’s one state against another, this school against that one, and my second grade in fierce competition with the second grade across the hall. Arne Duncan attended the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (as did our three sons); you sent your kids to Lab, and so did your friend Rahm Emanuel. There students found small classes, abundant resources, and opportunities to experiment and explore, ask questions and pursue answers to the far limits, and a minimum of time-out for standardized testing. They found, as well, a respected and unionized teacher corps, people who were committed to a life-long career in teaching and who were encouraged to work cooperatively for their mutual benefit (and who never would settle for being judged, assessed, rewarded, or punished based on student test scores). In a vibrant democracy, whatever the most privileged parents want for their children must serve as a minimum standard for what we as a community want for all of our children. Every child deserves the type of education your children receive. It is time to set American education on that course, and a strong step in that direction would be appointing Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond as Secretary of Education. A teacher and recognized scholar/researcher for decades, Dr. Darling-Hammond will not be swayed by big money or political expediency or the latest fads. She will be independent, professional and principled. We can then return to the precious but fragile ideal that must power education in a democracy: Every human being is of incalculable value, and the fullest development of all is the condition for the full development of each.

My little sister is in 2nd grade and she only has physical education class once a week. children should have this class everyday!