Archives for category: Networkfor Public Education Action Fund
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Breaking News! Trump Administration Abandons Bill to Turn Imact Aid into Vouchers

By dianeravitch
May 17, 2018 //
27

The Network for Public Education Action Fund worked closely with other advocacy groups to Block a proposal to convert Impact Aid for public schools into vouchers. The Trump administration just announced that it would not support the legislation, which was opposed by groups representing military families.

“The Trump administration does not support a proposal to use a portion of Impact Aid program funding to help expand school choice to military-connected children, an administration official told Education Week.

“Sources within the administration say they want to give military families more choices. But they don’t think robbing impact aid is the way to do it. Impact aid dollars are used to help school districts make up for a federal presence, such as Native American reservation or military base. Under Banks’ proposal, which is based on a paper written by the conservative Heritage Foundation, part of the funding would instead flow directly to families in the form of Education Savings Accounts or ESAs. These accounts can be used for a range of services, including private school tuition, dual enrollment courses, or tutoring.

“Banks had planned to introduce the bill as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, which is up for debate in Congress soon. Supporters, including the Heritage Foundation, say the legislation would expand education options to an important population of students and would help military retention rates.

“But detractors, including the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools, worry that the proposal could divert as much as $450 million from impact aid.

“That would create “unprecedented uncertainty” for federally impacted school, wrote NAFIS in a recent report. “The potential for such a significant funding reduction would severely hinder a school district’s ability to maintain the staff, programs, services, and infrastructure necessary to support military connected students, a vast majority of whom are educated in public school districts.”

Categories Education Reform, Networkfor Public Education Action Fund, School Choice

Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week!

By dianeravitch
May 7, 2018 //
21

May 7-11 is National Teacher Appreciation Week.

If you make a gift to the Network for Public Education in honor of a teacher, I will send him or her a personal email of thanks.

Here is the form.

Categories Education Reform, Network for Public Education, Networkfor Public Education Action Fund

NPE Action Endorses Adrienne Spinner for Guilford County Board of Education in North Carolina

By dianeravitch
May 2, 2018 //
2

The Network for Public Education Action Fund is pleased to endorse the candidacy of Adrienne Spinner for the Board of Education in Guilford County, North Carolina.

Adrienne Spinner has earned the Network for Public Education Action’s endorsement in the race for the District 4 seat on the Guilford County Board of Education.

As a parent and social activist, Adrienne has “a heart for children and advocacy.” She is a proud graduate of K-12 public schools and a public university, and believes that public schools are the backbone of the community.

Her top priority is to fight for increased funding. She wants to add additional teacher assistants, counselors, social workers, and other staff support to work with students. She also wants increased funding to raise teacher pay. Because of the lack of a living wage in North Carolina, many are choosing not to enter into a career in education. Adrienne told us that “raising teacher pay is a vital first step; afterwards, focus needs to be given to recruiting and retaining quality teachers.”

Adrienne will also push to reinstate North Carolina’s 100-school charter cap. She said that too much funding is being taken away from public education to support the growing number of charter schools in the state. Adrienne also disagrees with efforts to privatize education.

In North Carolina school board elections are partisan. On May 8th Adrienne will face a Democratic challenger in the primary election. Please help spread the word about Adrienne’s candidacy for the Guilford County Board of Education.

Categories Networkfor Public Education Action Fund, North Carolina

NPE #Indy2018, Early Registration Now Open

By dianeravitch
April 30, 2018 //
19

 

Come one, come all!

The Network for Public Education has opened early registration for the 2018 annual conference in Indianapolis, the heart of Pence ountry.

Please join us for an exciting event!

Meet education activists from across the country.

Meet your favorite bloggers.

Network with your allies.

Special rates for early registration.

Categories Education Reform, Indianapolis, Network for Public Education, Networkfor Public Education Action Fund, Resistance

Kentucky: NPE Action Endorses a Teacher For the Legislature!

By dianeravitch
April 14, 2018 //
2

 

 

The Network for Public Education Action Fund endorses Tina Bojanowski, who is running for the Kentucky House of Representatives, District 32.

Instead of complaining about the legislature, she is running for a seat.

She has no primary challenger, but needs your help in the general election in November.

The Network for Public Education Action has endorsed special education teacher Tina Bojanowski for the District 32 seat in Kentucky’s House of Representatives. Since 2010, Tina has been a special education teacher for Jefferson County Public Schools. She recently completed a Ph.D. in education and social change, and wants to use her knowledge and experience to ensure a high quality public education for all children.

Tina considered becoming a research professor, but realized that legislators seldomly read academic literature when making policy decisions. She decided to run for the legislature instead because having a voice on the floor and a vote will have more direct impact. She told NPE Action that her intention is to “bring the voice of a special education teacher to the floor of the state capitol to speak for public education.”

Tina’s positions on public education are in line with NPE Action. She is against high-stakes standardized testing as a way to evaluate teachers or measure student achievement. She supports sufficiently funding schools. She wants to ensure that education is a desirable profession both financially (living wages, pensions, and benefits) and professionally (treating educators as professionals).

She is strongly against the use of vouchers and tax credits to fund private or parochial schools with public funds. She also supports legislation that would repeal the 2017 charter school law passed in Kentucky. Until the law is repealed, Tina said she “would require charter schools (and the companies that manage the charter schools) to be completely transparent regarding the spending of public money.” She is also against virtual and/or online charter schools.

Tina understands that when privatization schemes like charter and vouchers divert funds away from public education, it is the most vulnerable students that are the most severely impacted.

Tina does not have a challenger in the primary election, but needs your support for the general election on November 6, 2018. Please do everything you can to help Tina bring her knowledge and experience to Frankfort to ensure a high quality public education for all children.

Categories Education Reform, Kentucky, Networkfor Public Education Action Fund, Supporting public schools

The Network for Public Education Action Fund Endorses Tony Thurmond For California State Superintendent

By dianeravitch
April 11, 2018 //
9

 

 

The Network for Public Education Action Fund is pleased to endorse Tony Thurmond for the post of State Superintendent of Public Instruction for the state of California. As an organization, we are committed to the improvement and preservation of public education. We oppose privatization in all ite forms, including charters, cybercharters, and vouchers. Thus, Tony Thurmond was the right choice for us, in light of his record.

“The Network for Public Education Action is proud to endorse East Bay Assemblyman, Tony Thurmond, for California State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

“Assemblyman Thurmond has been a member of the State Assembly since 2014. He serves on the Assembly Committee on Education, and has made education policy his top priority. Before serving in the legislature, he was on the West Contra Costa Unified School District Board for four years.

“Thurmond is passionate about improving public schools. His public school education prepared him for a 20-year career in social work, where he ran after-school programs and taught life skills and career training. Those years of experience provided him with a unique perspective into the lives of California’s youth.

“Thurmond told us that he will “ensure that every California student gets the education they need to realize their potential,” adding that “California is the 6th largest economy in the world, yet ranks 46th in per pupil spending in the United States. We cannot continue to underfund California’s public education.”

“He understands that class size has proven to be one of the most important factors in a child’s learning. Thurmond said that he will “support legislation, policy changes, funding to reduce class sizes.”

“Charter school issues are sure to be a central focus of the election. Thurmond’s opponent, Marshall Tuck, is a former charter school executive and CEO. In 2014, Tuck ran an unsuccessful campaign for State Superintendent, losing to incumbent Tom Torlakson. Tuck was heavily funded by outside money from national charter advocates, including Michael Bloomberg, Eli Broad, the Waltons, Laurene Powell Jobs, Arthur Rock and John Arnold. Thurmond stated that, “California’s voters don’t want this election to be bought by the Walton family, Eli Broad, and other billionaires who want to privatize public education.”

“Thurmond has made his position clear on charters. He has co-authored and voted for laws to increase accountability for charter schools and to ban for-profit charter schools. He believes that “charter schools must be measured through the same lens as public schools, follow the same guidelines, and be held publicly accountable.” He also believes that “charter schools should be authorized by local districts. Local districts host the charter and provide the services that the students and the charter will need – they are much better suited for this than the county or state.”

“Thurmond has vowed to “lead the resistance against Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos and their agenda to undermine and defund our public education system,” promising that he will not support policies that seek to divert taxpayer dollars from public education to private schools.

“Thurmond has already received numerous endorsements, including the endorsement of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson. Thurmond will be on the general election ballot on November 6th. NPE Action urges our over 21,000 supporters in California to educate and inform your friends, family, neighbors and colleagues about Thurmond’s campaign and the importance of this election for the future of public education in California.”

 

Categories California, Education Reform, Networkfor Public Education Action Fund

Indiana: NPE Action Fund Endorses Kyle Miller for State Representative

By dianeravitch
March 16, 2018 //
3

The Network for Public Education Action Fund endorses Kyle Miller for State Representative, District 81, in Indiana. 

In the District 81 race for Indiana State Representative, the Network for Public Education Action has endorsed Kyle Miller. Kyle’s number one priority is “fully funding public education and making sure that we return the joy to the teaching profession.”

He said, “We spend so much time trying to figure out different ways to spend public money on education that if we focused all that energy and money on public education, we could have a top notch public education system.”

He highlighted the state’s overgrown voucher system as the single greatest threat facing Indiana’s public schools, and believes that private voucher schools should be held accountable for the tax dollars they spend. He supports a moratorium on charter schools for the same reason, stating “we have allowed these charters to run wild with no accountability.”

Kyle also told us that Indiana teachers are overworked, underpaid and severely underappreciated, which has led to a teacher shortage, and he wants to change that. He affirmed that, if elected, he will “work tirelessly for teachers and public education.”

Please do what you can to support Kyle in his primary election on Tuesday, May 8, 2018.

Categories Indiana, Networkfor Public Education Action Fund

North Carolina: NPE Action Fund Endorses Wiley Nickel for State Senate

By dianeravitch
March 15, 2018 //
3

 

The Network for Public Education Action Fund endorses Wiley Nickel for State Senate in North Carolina, District 16. 

Wiley is a strong supporter of teachers and public schools.

The Network for Public Education has endorsed attorney Wiley Nickel for the District 16 seat in the North Carolina Senate. Wiley told us that he would “fight every day to fully fund the public school system, to raise teacher salaries to above the national average.”

He said he would support legislation to reduce class sizes, and also to pay for it. He sees the “class size chaos” that was created by the North Carolina legislature when they mandated reduced class sizes without providing additional funding for additional teachers.

Wiley also doesn’t agree that teacher pay should be capped the way it’s done in North Carolina, where the most senior teachers can never get a raise based on their seniority.

Wiley has taken a strong stand on both charter schools and vouchers, telling NPE Action that he opposes both. He supports a moratorium on charter schools, and “empowering local school boards with the ability to create charters and keep them under their governance.”

When is comes to vouchers, he called for “phasing out school vouchers for private schools, and ensuring that existing private schools receiving public voucher funds meet the same accountability and performance standards as public schools.” He also opposes tax credits and 529 accounts for K-12 private schools.

Please spread the word about Wiley’s May 8, 2018 primary election and help get people out to the polls to vote for a strong supporter of North Carolina’s teachers and public schools.

Categories Networkfor Public Education Action Fund, North Carolina

Network for Public Education Action Fund Endorses Denise Cole for Newark Board of Education

By dianeravitch
March 13, 2018 //
0

 

The NPE Action Fund endorses Denise Cole for election to the Newark, New Jersey, Board of Education.

The vote is April 17.

“Denise Cole has received the endorsement of the Network for Public Education Action for a seat on the Newark, New Jersey Board of Education.

“Denise is a dedicated public education advocate, with a strong history of working with national, state and local organizations like Journey for Justice, The Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools, PULSE (Parents United for Local School Education), Parents Educating Parents, and Communities United. Her years as an advocate will help her amplify the voice of the voters and community so that they can collectively take part in decisions that will directly impact their lives.

“She supports the NAACP’s Resolution on a Moratorium on Charter Schools, and believes that “charter schools should be required to be totally transparent with the public on the spending of taxpayer money.” With almost $250 million dollars diverted to charter schools from the Newark Public School budget, such transparency is crucial.

“Denise told us that taxpayer dollars should go “directly into the classroom for teacher and student success,” and that this is best achieved “by incorporating wraparound services that are sustainable.” Denise invites parents to work to support changes in the traditional public schools that they seek in charter and private schools. She said, “We must become the change we want for our children and community.”

“We ask you to support Denise Cole’s candidacy for the Newark Board of Education on April 17th.”

Categories Networkfor Public Education Action Fund, Newark, Supporting public schools

Kentucky: Network for Public Education. action Endorses Gay Adelmann for State Senate!

By dianeravitch
March 11, 2018 //
0

 

The Network for Public Education Action Fund enthusiastically endorses Gay Adelmann for State Senate in District 36 in Kentucky. 

Gay is an activist for public schools and against privatization and looting of the public domain.

“She is the co-founder/president of Dear JCPS, a stakeholder advocacy group in Jefferson County, and the co-founder/president of Save Our Schools KY, a statewide public education advocacy group. Her body of work as an advocate should be all the evidence voters need to believe her campaign promise to “fight to end corruption and protect public schools, healthcare, pensions, and workers’ rights.”

“The citizens of Kentucky are becoming highly aware of the threats to public education, posed by charter schools and voucher legislation, and Gay has been at the forefront of that awakening. She understands that basing a teacher’s evaluation on test scores “leads to high turnover, gaming of the system and demoralizing of some of our hardest working teachers who are truly called to serve.”

“She told us that “the idea that the money should follow the child is one of the greatest fallacies of this entire movement. As a taxpayer, I do not want my tax dollars to be used to pay for a child’s charter school or private school education. I want them to remain in my community schools for the schools to determine the best ways to utilize those funds to serve all students in our community.”

“Gay is also keenly aware that Kentucky is facing a budget and pension crisis, and that the Governor is looking to solve that crisis “on the backs of teachers and students.”

“No one is better prepared to tackle the current threats to public education in Kentucky than Gay. Please do everything you can to support her in the primary election on May 22nd.”

Categories Kentucky, Networkfor Public Education Action Fund
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »