My petition is about getting someone to listen. It has affected me personally, it has affected my family, it is affecting thousands of students and something needs to change. The for profit colleges that are feeding Sallie Mae need to be controlled. Stop robbing our children, its hard to live a life when your living to pay off a debt so large because the interest rates are so high that you will never pay off your loan. Cant survive if all your money goes to your student loans.

The ability to expand the campus with future construction is necessary for Goucher to remain competitive as a small liberal arts college in a crowded market. Other local institutions, from University of Maryland College Park to Towson University, are in the midst of similar development projects, as are colleges and universities around the country. Goucher is committed to doing that in a way that preserves green space and honors our commitment to environmental sustainability. Goucher has been an upstanding member of the Towson community since moving here from Baltimore City, and has worked with its neighbors in the past to ensure that anything built on campus meets with community approval and Goucher's own exacting architectural standards. The college takes great pride in its beautiful campus and frequently hosts public events, performances, and lectures that bring the Towson audience to the college to hear national leaders, artists, and speakers. Most recently, we welcomed our neighbors and community members to campus to enjoy our Goucher Summer Stage concert series. To remain competitive, to keep bringing those benefits to the community, Goucher needs the ability to expand in a way that benefits all of us, which is why I support the college's request for re-zoning.

As educators and parents in this community, we know that parents and students don't have enough options when it comes to choosing a middle or high school. We will build for you a state of the art, new middle/high school that offers a full Project Lead The Way design and competitive sports programs to help our students achieve academic and athletic success!

I have a child in the Birmingham City Schools and I have high expectations of the school district and our community leaders.

As African American Adults and people of good will, we believe that African American History is vital to the development of African American children. As a result of our belief and as tax payers, it is our contention that African American Children have a right to learn who they are and that our tax dollars should be used to accomplish this learning objective. If the school system cannot provide this education (which they have never done in the past) it is imperative that our tax dollars be spent on programs during the school day or after school to fill this vital need for African American children. American History has developed and actively promoted many myths, fables, and fantasy and presented outright lies concerning African American people and their Contribution to American and Western civilization. The History Curriculum and Frame Works of the state of California Department of Education for students K-12 have failed to reveal who the African American student is and the achievements and contributions African Americans have made to the creation of Western civilization. The history curriculum and frameworks do not teach African American history in context with the many obstacles that African Americans faced and why they were able to overcome those obstacles and achieve extraordinary successes. A people's history defines a people's group identity and inspires and fires the imagination of a people when they learn about the accomplishments of their people, how they faced innumerable challenges, and how they were able to overcome those challenges. Your history tells you who you are and how you came into being. It tells you of your interaction with all kinds of people of this world and how you were able to work with those people to achieve positive results. The African American has a unique history that when told in context explains his/her true being that will help future generations formulate a world view and perspective that can guide him/her along their journey through life and can be summoned as a source of strength in good and bad times. History, as taught in the American Schools K-12, promotes white supremacy and black inferiority by just not discussing or obscuring the African Americans as vital and important contributors to the development of American and Western Civilization. African Americans are the invisible men/women of history. An example of this is Republican Congressman Steve King of Iowa, who stated at the 2016 Presidential Republican Convention that white people are the only people who have contributed to the making of American and Western Civilization. The idea that African Americans have not contributed to civilization was the belief that was taught in schools to support the enslavement of African people centuries ago; however, this was said not 100 years ago, nor 50 years ago, nor 10 years ago, but right now!!! This type of history is destructive to the self-esteem and to the identity of African American children which produces self-hate. You have to know your history before you can fight for your future (Akon)

I am a parent of a child in after school care. I believe all children at all schools should have convenient, affordable and high quality after school care at the school. #BCSAdvocacy

Gov. Charlie Baker just vetoed a number of funding items for early education. I need your help to override these cuts. Massachusetts should lead on education, but when it comes to early education we're falling behind. While states like Oklahoma offer a free year of early education to every child, Massachusetts has repeatedly cut funding for these critical programs. Since 2001, early education and out-of-school-time programs have lost more than $148 million in state funding, adjusting for inflation. 1 There were modest gains in this year's budget, but if we don't override the cuts from Gov. Baker, we'll continue to undermine early learning programs. The research is clear -- kids who receive a high-quality early education graduate from high school and college at higher rates, and are less likely to be incarcerated or rely on public assistance. It is incredibly short-sighted to cut early education. It just means more costs down the line. Among the cuts to the program are $7.5 million in cuts to early education salaries, which is especially troubling. Early educators have already born the brunt of 15 years of cuts. As a result, the field is in crisis, with a 30% turnover rate in the workforce. We can do better. Every child deserves the same strong start. I know we can override these cuts, but we have to speak up so lawmakers know we are paying attention. 1. MassBudget, July 7, 2016 http://goo.gl/KvRxHx

Together We Stand, a national organization of over 1,500 people dedicated to racial equality and social justice is asking that you sign this much needed petition. We are deeply concerned about recent news from Rockdale County Public School District where school staff allegedly hung a young African American boy with special needs from his belt loops at the top of the chalkboard at Shoal Creek Elementary School. The child was reported to be in great distress evidenced by his screaming, which caused an administrator to enter the classroom. It is also reported that this incident is not the first time this significantly inappropriate punishment has occurred by staff. The use of corporal punishment has been banned from public schools in all but 19 U.S. states to date, due to significant developmental, psychological and physical concerns related to the use of physical punishment with children. The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights documented that approximately 167,000 students received physical punishment in the 2011-12 school year with over 70% occurring in Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia. Of these children, it is documented that physical punishment is administered disproportionately to children who are African American, male and/or receiving Special Education Services. (ocrdata.ed.gov) This data is concerning as it suggests that racial and gender bias influence educators and administrators who use corporal punishment and that our most vulnerable children are most likely to be abused at the hands of educators. Resulting, this bias moves the conversation beyond whether corporal punishment is an appropriate disciplinary strategy and raises questions related to the civil rights for children of color and children who qualify for special education services. Nationally, many professional organizations with expertise related to children and their development have taken a stand against the use of corporal punishment. These organizations include, but are not limited to, the American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Medical Association, American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, National Association for the Education of Young Children, American School Counselor Association, National Association of School Psychologists, and the American Public Health Association. These organizations are in good company with social justice organizations such as UNICEF, UNESCO, Human Rights Committee, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. We wholeheartedly agree with this statement made by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): “Corporal punishment -- most often, paddling -- can cause deep bruising or other lasting physical or mental injury. Furthermore, it creates a violent, degrading school environment in which all students -- and particularly students with disabilities -- may struggle to succeed. The use of corporal punishment in US public schools must end. There are positive, non-violent approaches to school discipline that have been proven to lead to safe environments in which children can learn.” (www.aclu.org) We ask that you take the proper steps to ensure a full and unbiased assessment and investigation occurs to hold the staff involved accountable to their actions. In addition, we hope you will take this opportunity to engage your system to include administration, teachers, paraprofessionals and staff in comprehensive education and training related to racial equity and developmentally appropriate disciplinary strategies. This type of systemic intervention will allow all students attending the Georgia Public Schools an opportunity for a safe and equal education. Lastly, we ask that you do all that is in your power to ban corporal punishment in the state of Georgia.

I took health class in Kenosha unified just like every other student but I was not taught about how to properly say "no" and stop a situation that could result in rape or sexual abuse. I was not taught what seems like common knowledge but isn't, if someone you are with says no or stop, that means stop what you are doing, not keep going. These are just a few points that need to be taught in sex Ed classes about consent. People need to know about it so we can stop all of the rape and abuse in this country.

Please help us stop the SPPS Board of Ed from eliminating or cutting the funding for the Office of Family Engagement and Community Partnerships (OFECP). Parents need all of the help that they can get because when you know more, you can do more and better! The OFECP is ensuring parents have the right tools so they can become better advocates for their families and communities which increases the potential of their children becoming more successful in public school, especially ISD 625. OFECP has put great efforts into raising the capacity of parents of color. It's programming lets parents know they are valued, and provides opportunities for parents to learn, grow, and have a voice at the table for their families and communities. They do this by creating and maintaining Parent Academy, language/culture specific Parent Advisory Councils, and introducing ways for the youth of diverse backgrounds to share their voice in the process of what effects them; the policies, procedures and practices of this district, ISD 625; an urban public school The OFECP plans, supports, funds, and brings together community partners to host a Parent Academy graduation each year. This offers many parents a first time opportunity to walk across a college stage and helps boost our parents confidence, esteem, and motivation to keep pushing. This opportunity also allows families to be even more proud of their loved ones and it gives children another reason to look up to and respect their parents. It is with strong belief that with the loss of the OFECP, parents and students of color will not have the success they are having today in the SPPS district, which already has some of the worst achievement gaps in the country. Many of our parents and students of color will not have the opportunity to use their voice and to be heard about the issues that affect them in this public education institution with out the tools that the OFECP can give them. We are asking that the SPPS Board consider reducing the 2016-2017 Budget in other ways, such as: the Board not taking an 18% increase, accepting the Q-Comp funding and any other ways that they have available to them. To eliminate the Office of Family Engagement and Community Partnerships (OFECP), that is directly assisting students, parents and families achieve success, is just not ethical or moral. This does not align with their strategic plan of Strong School, Strong Community 2.0. !!! The Village, a Minnesota Community Chapter of Parent, Teachers, and Students Association would like for all SPPS staff and teachers, Voters that live within the City of St Paul which includes parents, students, and community members to support this issue and to please sign this petition. We seek the support and signatures of any and all St. Paul residents, voters and constituents!

It has come to my attention that BHS staff are being cut as well. Hopefully this new petition makes it clear that we oppose any cuts at any school.

Eastern Michigan University students were hit with a 7.8% tuition increase last year, and with another large tuition increase soon to be approved, privatization will have EMU students paying more for lower quality food. In addition, workers will be hired at low wages with fewer benefits, creating more income inequality. Numerous current employees and students will be at risk for losing their jobs. Given that the operation of dining services currently returns a surplus to the University, and given the satisfaction students have with the services provided, there is no reason to privatize dining services at Eastern Michigan University. There are many reasons to be concerned, however, about the cost and quality of food delivered by outside vendors. Outsourcing in the State of Michigan does not always work out, as was demonstrated when food service for inmates in state prisons was outsourced, with disastrous results. In addition, the firm likely to receive the contract is Chartwells, a subsidiary of Compass Group, a British company. Chartwells took over food service at Oakland University, and this account demonstrates how displeased the students are with Chartwells. “Chartwells confronts food issues,” Oakland Post, March 9, 2015. In addition, according to the Washington Post, students at a high school in Connecticut reported that Chartwells serves “food that sometimes features mold, human hair, dangerously undercooked meats, insects and portion sizes fit for a small, starving child.” “Moldy hot dogs, human hair and other cafeteria nightmares prompt students to boycott school lunches,” Washignton Post, Nov. 5, 2014 The EMU administration has claimed that the justification for this move is due to financial struggles of Eastern Michigan University. But the university’s bond rating remains strong, and EMU has solid cash flows and real reserves. If there are any financial issues at EMU, it is clear that the priorities of the EMU administration are completely misplaced. If money is to be saved, those savings can be achieved by reducing EMU’s bloated administrative budget, and by cutting the $1,000 per student (10% of average tuition) subsidy to athletics.