The Network for Public Education Action Fund endorses Jason Morris for school board in Néw London, Connecticut.

Jason is the parent of two children in the New London School District. He has spent the last several years working diligently to bring about change in the public schools as a parent activist with a group called the New London Parent Advocates.

When he learned that students in his local elementary school were being punished for not performing on standardized tests or for not taking them because their parents had decided to opt them out, he did something about it. Jason fought for 2 years to ensure that “no student should be punished for either not taking the test or for shutting down from the stress.” And he won.

Jason’s commitment to undoing the harmful impact of standardized testing in our schools in indisputable. He is a strong believer that “authentic, teacher created, progress testing is the only form of testing that can be universally accepted, useful, valuable, and as least harmful as possible.” He is similarly clear that the current overemphasis on testing in our schools is misguided. He stated, “Testing doesn’t bring equity, focusing on equity of resources is where we start.”

Equity is a very clear priority for Jason. Mongi Dhaouadi, a New London parent and founding member of New London Parent Advocates says, “We aren’t the kind of group that just complains, we want to find solutions. Because of his commitment, research skills and passion, Jason has been instrumental to the New London Parent Advocates. He has worked on diversity, restorative justice, and hiring teachers to reduce class size.”

Jason’s restorative justice work, and commitment to ending “zero tolerance” policies, is laudable. As a part of the New London Parent Advocates he presented a report to the Board of Education that clearly showed how such policies disproportionately affect male students of color.

If you live in New London, help Jason Morris. Open the link and you will find his Facebook page. He is a passionate parent advocate who will be a great board member.