Mayor Rahm Emanuel believes in public education for the few, not the many. He has called the rapidly expanding Noble Street Charter Network the “secret sauce” to public education in Chicago. But what’s in that “secret sauce”? $386,745. That’s how much the charter school has made from $5 fines and $280 “behavior classes” imposed on low-income students for behavior like leaning back in your chair, chewing gum, forgetting your belt, and not following the teacher with your eyes at all times. If you can’t pay, your options are limited—be held back a year, or leave the school entirely. Forty percent of all Noble students drop out or transfer before their senior year. It’s a scenario that’s far too common across Chicago, where Mayor Emanuel is aggressively expanding the use of extreme discipline policies at all schools. The rising use of fines, arrests, and multi-week suspensions for infractions that could better be--and once were--handled by a trip to the principal's office means that more and more students are leaving Chicago schools with a record, not a diploma. Black and Latino students, who are over three times more likely to be arrested for minor offenses than white students, are hurt the most by these policies. Our tax dollars should be used to put all our students on a path to college, not a path to prison. Instead of defending Noble, Mayor Emanuel needs to end extreme disciplinary practices at all publicly-funded schools. Tell him that we need a common-sense discipline code that works for all Chicago families.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, strongly encourage Congress and the President to pass legislation to stop student loan interest rates from doubling this summer. Now is the time for real leadership to reduce student loan debt.

Alabama's public schools are poised to lose funding for teachers, librarians, extended day programs, and other popular programs because of potential budget cuts from the Education Trust Fund. Governor Robert Bentley has a chance to reverse these cuts in his upcoming budget. We're calling on him to stand for students, and education and stop the terrible funding cuts to our public schools.

The Portsmouth School Board is poised to name the football field at the original site of Manor High School. The Board has the potential to name individual sporting areas and the entire complex rather than asking several groups to unnecessarily battle over one name for the football field. I am calling on all citizens affiliated with Portsmouth Public Schools to support this effort that will recognize Portsmouth's past, present and future without pitting its citizens against one another.

THE ELEMENTRY AND SECONDARY COMMITTEE IS GOING TO PRESENT BILL 1740 TO THE MO HOUSE THIS BILL CONTAINS TAKEING THE TENURE RIGHTS AWAY FROM MO TEACHERS

Our neighborhoods need a quality, public elementary school. Too many parents and neighbors feel they don't have acceptable elementary options for their children, and as a result we see young families leave our neighborhoods as their children reach school age. Together with our Neighborhood Associations and our Aldermen, we're proposing to create a new, high-performing, multicultural public school

Many people that went to college over the last decade have outrageous student loan debt. Many of them are so far in debt that they may never be able to repay all of the loans. Still others, like me, have student loans that are in default. We need to fix this problem by getting Congress to change the bankruptcy laws regarding student loans as well as returning the Truth In Lending rights to student loans. Student loans should not be a form of debtor punishment or debtor prison. The Constitution gives all Americans the freedom not to be put into a debtor prison; however, the current federal student loan laws are crippling many people with student loans that they cannot afford to repay (I became permanently disabled in 2006, and my only income is my Social Security Disability; I do not receive a benefit amount that can afford me the ability to make payments on my student loans. The student loan lenders have the ability to torture borrowers with default penalty fees (I was charged $25,000!), outrageous interest rates similar to high rates on credit cards as well as demanding monthly payments that are not inline with the borrower's income.

Seattle Central Community College's Film and Video program has been a bright source of solid training and immense talent for our state's film and video industry for 26 years! Tragically, this legendary program is being cut in 2012. We are calling on SCCC's President Dr. Paul Killpatrick, Chancellor Jill Wakefield, and the Board of Trustees to stand for this vital and relevant technical program. Please accept the full-time faculty proposal to stay open at reduced costs while collaborating with SCCC to reconfigure the program for continued viability and excellence in the future.

I pledge to Stay I pledge to Fight I pledge to Help The current proposed 2012-13 budget provides substantially less funds for the next school year, resulting in the loss of a classroom teacher and five para professionals. The school board does not vote on a finalized budget from the district administration until June, so there is time for our school board to deny the proposed cuts and choose to provide adequate funding to maintain our current staff.

We want the State of Pennsylvania to increase funding to Philadelphia public schools. Our children are losing academic programs, school nurses, teachers, support staff, teacher's aides, custodians, and bus drivers all due to Governor Tom Corbett's budget cut to public schools. Without state funding our children will lose the opportunity to receive the education they deserve.

Hawaii education need to be competitive with mainland schools. Help fund PBS Hiki No and Kealekehe HS Morning Broadcast as our children are the future. The social studies are important for youth to understand their culture and history. Encourage pro active teachers.

Our community needs to be concerned because of the districts cuts throughout our schools. It is not just ONE building that could be affected, its the entire district. We are asking all parents, taxpayers and students of Summit Hill 161 to attend this Special Board Meeting: When: Tuesday February 28, 2012 at 6:30pm Where: District Adminstrative Office (next to Mary Drew) *Children Welcome*