The Virgin Islands Montessori School, which has been in existence for over 40 years, is seeking to amend the Title 34 Virgin Island's Code, Section 383 (b)(4) to exempt the AMI Certified Montessori Primary Classroom from the Department of Human Services jurisdiction as a daycare facility. Currently, AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) certified primary classrooms teach children starting at the age of 3 years old in a multi-age classroom. The Department of Human Services, has jurisdiction over daycare facilities, which may include 3 year old children, but the AMI (and AMS-American Montessori Society) certified Montessori programs teach 3 year olds in a primary classroom, and not a daycare facility or setting. We are calling on VI Senators of the 29th Legislature to support our efforts to maintain the AMI Certification of the Virgin Islands Montessori School by amending the VI Code to exempt the AMI and AMS Montessori certified primary classrooms, and allow them to continue educating Virgin Islands children in the multi-age 3-6 year old classroom utilizing the proven Montessori methods and philosophy. Some of the mandatory rules governing daycare facilities are counter to the methods, philosophies and practice for AMI classrooms, and if implemented, would negate the AMI certification of the only certified Montessori program in the territory.

West Laurens Middle School has lately changed it's menu into food that none of it's students like. It was intended to be healthier, but instead was even worse. One of these instances is the pizza is so greasy, it literally sunk through my fingers. And the pepperonis were undercooked. Second, they charge us students MORE for something we don't like. And it's also more for less food. They planned to cut down on carbs and proteins, and cutting down on carbs is ok. But the less protein you have, the less energy you have. I think they have made a mistake and I would like for them to change it, as I have personally witnessed the horror that they have presented us.

Be it enacted that any minor, or California high school student should have a minimum of B or above in all their citizenship grades in school in order to obtain a driver's license.

The Warren Prescott School has been supported by the local community, The Mothers Group, the parents of children attending the school and an Oustanding Group of professional teachers and staff.. We want to keep our children in our own local public.school..the entire community has worked very hard to keep families in the town but people are moving out because there is no space for their children in the our local school .. Why because space is taken by children from other areas in the city. and kids are bused in.. Would you send your 6 year old on a bus to Brighton when he lives next to his local elementary school?

Community Education Task Force http://communityeducationtaskforce.rocus.org PO. Box 15604, Rochester, NY 14615 [email protected] Prior to leaving the Community Education Task Force's (CETF) Leadership Team, and prior to being sworn in as a member of the Rochester Board of Education in January 2012, Mary Adams had repeatedly expressed grave concern about the fact that Rochester City School District (RCSD) leaders are involved in an ongoing process of reconfiguring schools and programs, including school closings and development of new schools and programs–without telling parents and the broader community information about the overall future direction. Therefore parents and other community members have no idea about what the RCSD will look like overall, 10 or 15 years from now. We assume that this is still a concern for Commissioner Adams. After having served on the Rochester Board of Education for nearly eight months, we figured that Commissioner Adams probably has more insight and understanding than she previously had regarding this critical issue. Therefore CETF invited her to a public community meeting for the purpose of having a conversation with parents, grandparents, students, educators and other community members regarding the future overall direction of the RCSD. The idea was that the community could discuss with Commissioner Adams what the District will look like overall, 10 or 15 years from now, as well as her own vision regarding change and improvements within the RCSD. We had also informed her of our eagerness to hear about ideas regarding ways in which we may be able to assist and/or support her vision relative to much needed change and improvement within the RCSD. Commissioner Adams' response was that she is "not going to participate in any event that involves CETF." Considering that she ran for Office as part of CETF's Slate, and on CETF's Platform, and CETF was instrumental in helping to get her elected, we found her response to be shocking. We are asking for your support in helping us to hold Commissioner Mary Adams accountable by signing the following petition: We the undersigned Rochester City School District (RCSD) students, parents, grandparents, and other family members of RCSD students, educators, activists, community members, local, state, and federal taxpayers believe that Commissioner Mary Adams should demonstrate responsiveness and accountability by honoring the Community Education Task Force's reasonable request to attend a community meeting for the purpose of having a conversation with parents, grandparents, educators and other community members regarding the future, overall direction of the RCSD. We in the community deserve to learn from and discuss with Commissioner Adams what the District will look like overall, 10 or 15 years from now, as well as her own vision regarding change and improvements within the RCSD.

This is a really important issue, because too many parents aren't able to discuss it with their children. And all children NEED to know the facts. The RIGHT WAY. Without it we have way too many children/teens finding out for themselves and causing too many young girls to become pregnant. They also need to learn about.SexuallyTransmitted Deseases. S

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My daughter’s birthday is Sept. 20, 2007 and because Florida's Public School age requirements states that children attending Pre-K need to turn age 4 on or before Sept. 1 of the year attending, she was forced to stay home for an entire year. Florida’s age law for Public Schools needs to change, we are holding back our children from learning and interacting with others their own age. We are calling for flexibility on age when it comes to Pre-K and/or Kindergarten; we are asking that Florida adopt New York's requirements for Public School where children are allowed until December 31 of the year attending to turn 4 or 5 respectfully.

Sex is barely talked about in school. and Personally I knew absolutely nothing about it until I looked up Planned Parenthood online. I'm right now 16 and thinking about having sex with my boyfriend, and if we had and neither of us knew how to put on a condom correctly? We'll wham pregnancy scare. My best friend is pregnant right now and before she came to highschool and someone sat down and told her what sex was, she was taught it was torture of the worst kind. Some of these issues may be avoided if it was more okay to talk about sex, and maybe, as an optional during lunch talk, Planned Parenthood was aloud to come in and give a talk to kids about this stuff.

Folks in Georgia want the Georgia legislature to restore funding for public schools rather than spending tax dollars on building a parallel system of charter schools that lack the same oversight and standards as public schools.

My twins I'sai-yah and Shiloh has been educated at Early Head Start in Monroe, North Carolina since 2010, until this year they were kicked out because my gross income exceeded what the federal government says I should make for a family of five. My children were adapted to going to school. They loved to learn and were eager to share their new found knowledge with their eldest sister that is currently enrolled in school, but they were put on a waiting list that has no projected return date. To add insult to injury they were bumped down every time a new mother with a greater need came in for their children. I met with the board director this past Wednesday and she stated that my husband's income and mine was too high, she also stated that I was not in a domestic relationship, DSS was not in my home and my children were not in their care, in addition to me not being homeless. No child should be left behind, but why are the working citizen’s children falling through the crack? President Obama, North Carolina has had your back in the election, can you have our back and hear our cry?

The time has come for teachers and other school employees to stop the use of food rewards in the classroom. At my daughter's school it is very common for the teachers to hand out candy as rewards in the classroom. When the whole country is struggling to keep children healthy and avoid childhood obesity, I find it surprising that teachers and the school as a whole are doing this. While it may provide short term behavior or performance changes, this practice has real long term consequences. As parents, it’s our job to look out for our children’s long term health and learning experience. Some may point out that my daughter’s food allergies make it easy for me to disapprove of this, but this goes beyond children with food allergies. This practice is hurting everyone, including the teachers and the school. I know many parents who really don’t like the practice as well, but are just not sure how to change it. The teachers and school openly support and rely on these rewards, but I guess no one has challenged it or pointed out how inappropriate it is. Here it goes, here’s my case against food rewards in the classroom: *The first and obvious reason – these foods are unhealthy. Candy and junk food contribute to poor health. Candy and sugary rewards increase the risk of cavities and hyperactivity and can lead to problems like diabetes and obesity. Pizza, ice cream and cookies are not healthy foods and should be eaten in moderation. When given throughout the day, they can take the place of or interfere with healthy choices. Eating when your not hungry teaches poor eating habits and interferes with the child’s ability to understand when they are hungry. *Parents should decide what their children should eat and the school should respect that choice. Children are given food in the classroom all the time and parents have no idea what and how much. *Eating sweets increases a preference for sweets. We’ve all seen it. I gave my 3 year old a fruit juice lollipop and for a week afterwards, he he insisted on lollipops for breakfast, lunch and dinner instead of a real meal. It was a tough battle that I hadn’t anticipated. *It’s manipulation. A child promised a treat for learning has been given every reason to stop doing so as soon as the reward goes away. Children will very quickly realize that the rewards can work both ways -” if you don’t give me the reward, I won’t cooperate”. *It teaches children inappropriate associations with food. Food rewards create the understanding that food and sustenance are things one has to earn. *Food rewards are confusing and compromise learning. The children are taught about nutrition to promote healthy habits, but by giving out candy in class they are completely contradicting that message. A recent field trip to the skating rink was touted as being part of the children’s health curriculum, but pizza was included as part of the field trip. My daughter was quick to point this out and I have to agree with her–this isn’t the best way to end a “health” fieldtrip. Developing a child’s inner sense of accomplishment is a beautiful thing. An internal sense of success is powerful, and creates a sense of accomplishment that pales in comparison to any external praise, or tangible reward, for a job well done. This, in my opinion is the real juice that keeps kids excited about learning. This is what we need to aim for as a goal for our children and support our schools and teachers in that goal. So what can we do? We want what’s best for our children and we want them to have the best education experience possible. If we want change, we have to ask for it. This is me asking for change. This is me asking teachers and schools to stop using food rewards in the classroom. Join me in asking our schools for change. Let's see how far we can go for our kids!