Parents United

How crazy were school closings cheerleaders? As crazy as you thought

(This post originally appeared at the Public School Notebook. We thank our attorneys at the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia, especially Ben Geffen and Michael Churchill, for their multi-year dedication to this effort.) What could possibly justify the closing of Northeast High School, the largest school in the city and each year bursting atContinue reading “How crazy were school closings cheerleaders? As crazy as you thought”

Our statement: We support the right to opt out

This statement is in response to news that the School District of Philadelphia may begin disciplinary action toward teachers who had informed parents of their opt out rights around high stakes testing. The District move follows this City Paper article announcing that 17% of students at Feltonville School of Arts and Sciences refused to takeContinue reading “Our statement: We support the right to opt out”

Tomika Anglin to PA officials: Reduce inequity. Don’t reinforce it.

Today the Basic Education Funding Commission held the second part of a controversial two-day visit to Philadelphia to collect testimony that will inform the possibility of a funding formula for Pennsylvania’s schools. The Commission had refused to hear from parents, students or community members representing concerns about adequate funding in the Philadelphia public schools. According to a spokesman,Continue reading “Tomika Anglin to PA officials: Reduce inequity. Don’t reinforce it.”

Statement: Students deserve an apology – not insults

Last month the School District of Philadelphia hosted a screening of the controversial film “Won’t Back Down” (read Helen Gym’s review of the movie here) shortly after the School Reform Commission took unprecedented action to revoke the teachers’ contract. Students conducted a protest of the film screening. It went downhill from there. According to this video,Continue reading “Statement: Students deserve an apology – not insults”

Why we vote: Voting has the power to restore

Voting day is today November 4 . Polls are open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. (Find your poll location here). By all accounts the Pennsylvania gubernatorial race for the first time, will hinge primarily on how voters feel Governor Tom Corbett has served the Commonwealth’s public schools, its children, and the communities who support them. This is aContinue reading “Why we vote: Voting has the power to restore”