My son started Kindergarten at New Sarpy Elementary this year and has come home daily complaining about there being too much classroom work at school. He would enjoy going to school more if there was less emphasis on instructional work and more emphasis on learning through play. Developmentally, children should not be punished from this highly beneficial form of learning. Our children deserve the best we can offer and there should be a 30 minute recess every day, as mandated by Louisiana State Law 17:17.1.

We, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with the principle that higher education in America should be considered a public good, rather than a private commodity. We believe that solutions should immediately be found to the growing crisis of over $1.4 Trillion of existing student debt. Higher education benefits society as a whole, not just individual students, and because it has proven to boost our economy, it is imperative that we ease the burden of student debt so that every hard-working American can afford college. Those solutions should include student loan forgiveness, expansion of existing federal repayment plans and expansion of consumer protection laws that protect borrowers. This looming crisis needs to be addressed - and it needs to be addressed now. We believe that we need to reform the ways in which higher education is paid for in America. Wall street continues to play too large a role in the financing of higher education, while states continue to play too small a role. It’s time that states reaffirm their commitment to funding higher education across the country by reinvesting in this all-too-important public good and getting Wall Street out of higher education. We believe that everybody, regardless of background, geography, or financial status, should have equal access to quality, affordable higher education. All too often, where you come from or how much your parents earn, determines whether you can obtain a higher education. In 2017 America, there has got to be a better way. We should obtain this goal through debt-free college for all immediately, eliminating these barriers to obtaining a higher education. We believe in protecting the rights of all Americans on college campuses, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. Equal rights means equal rights for ALL. We support the right of minorities to protest and to make their reasonable demands for equality heard. Whether we’re talking about protesting the Trump Administration’s recent immigration ban targeting people of the Muslim faith or the renewed focus on limiting the rights of transgendered people to use the bathroom of their choice, we believe that college campuses should be free spaces where everyone’s rights are protected and respected. We also believe that faculty have the right to speak out against these policies without fear of retribution. Finally, we believe in fair pay and a union voice for faculty, researchers and all staff. Access to quality, affordable higher education is wholly dependent on access to well-paid staff whose workplace rights are protected. We believe that this is what it means to be a progressive who supports higher education in America in 2017. We implore lawmakers to thoughtfully consider our demands and to legislate and regulate accordingly.

As a public school parent, I see every day the difficult and essential work that happens in our public schools. That's why I'm sounding the alarm about HR 610, a horrifying new bill in Congress that would repeal the Educational and Secondary Education Act, the landmark law that provides Title I support for schools serving low-income students--and guarantees essential rights for disabled students. HR 610 would redirect Federal ed funding into to vouchers for private school kids. The bill would also largely abolish the Department of Education and repeal basic health standards for school lunches. Millions of students like my daughter and her classmates would immediately suffer. Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos have embraced similar ideas. So we need to stop HR 610 from getting traction in Congress. The good news is, this isn't a party line issue. People across the political spectrum support public schools and the ESEA. If we raise our voices together, we can stop HR 610. Please share this petition widely!

Donald Trump's education plan would redirect billions of dollars away from public schools to create a massive and risky voucher program, even though evidence shows that vouchers often hurt the kids they’re supposed to help. To pay for it, experts say support for schools that serve low-income students would be cut. And another likely source would be cuts to IDEA, which helps kids with disabilities. Many education and disability-rights groups have opposed Trump's new education Secretary Betsy DeVos, especially after she showed a stunning lack of understanding and support for laws that protect kids with disabilities. The good news is that Congress would have to approve Trump's cuts, and there is support across the political spectrum. With enough of an outcry, we can protect our public schools!

This bill eliminates the Elementary and Secondary Education Bill of 1965. If passed, it would redistribute Federal funds for public elementary and secondary education in the form of vouchers for eligible students; it would repeal a rule relating to nutrition standards in schools and would cut programs for special needs, advanced, and language learners.

It will destroy public education and negatively effect our children.

I'm a 5th grade teacher a local public school. This proposed charter school would divert scarce funds from the public school system into a program that offers nothing that the public schools are not already providing East Aurora’s students. The resources will be controlled by outsiders with no stake in East Aurora and have not been elected by taxpayers.

$1.4 billion is necessary for NYS school districts just to open the doors next year, yet the Executive Budget provides just $378 million for this purpose. This would underfund even a “roll-over” budget. Further concern arises from the Governor’s proposals to: - Repeal the Foundation Aid formula, thus erasing any history of the funding that has been lost by school districts, and - Freeze Foundation Aid at 2017-18 levels, even though costs continue to rise This means that school districts would have no new funding coming in, and would not have the ability to get it in future years, even as costs and expectations escalate.

I am a retired teacher with thirty years of experience. I am also the mother of an adult child with learning disabilities. U.S. Senators Cantswell and Murray got it right when they stated, “The Department’s failure to keep this critical resource operational makes it harder for parents, educators, and administrators to find the resources they need to implement this federal law and protect the rights of children with disabilities." Please sign to restore this resource!

Opposition to LB608 The Parental Choice Scholarship Program Act, introduced by Lou Ann Linehan, takes funds away from public schools for each student that goes to a private school. This hurts Nebraska communities and has the potential to increase taxes. This is a radical copy of programs launched by Betsy DeVos and Mike Pence. By providing public funds to religious organizations it would also be unconstitutional: http://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/articles.php?article=VII-11

Athletics have long been an important part of the Northland College experience and help support enrollment and financial goals. Tuition, donations and the college's modest endowment are the primary sources of revenue which drive the schools bottom line. This has been a good model, we all had a good experience? Northland was just just ranked the #2 outdoor college by Backpacker Magazine this fall. Even with this good press and many recent investments, the Board remains concerned about declining enrollment. In an effort to boost enrollment Northland College has contracted with Athletics Staffing & Consultants, www.ascwinners.com/asc/, to explore development potential of a football program. Does a football program really fit the ethos of the Northland experience? What other sports can deliver value which complement Northland's existing liberal arts, environmental and outdoor related offerings? Challenge the Northland College Board of Trustees to develop its athletic program in a way that supports and enhances the values and experience we hold true as students, alumni and members of the greater Northland community. Tell the Board of Trustees you do not support a football program and tell them about your concerns relating to football culture and how this may impact the Northland experience. You can read the letter posted by the Board of Trustees, http://northland.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0bbd0f0841cdeb25c2f75fe44&id=b67ee53a06&e=ba0713aca9 Kind Regards, Peter Werts, class of 2006

Firing so many frontline school clerks is unacceptable and will have harmful impact on our schools, our students and their families.