Grassroots Education Network- June 2020 Newsletter
The NPE Grassroots Education Network is a network of 150 grassroots organizations nationwide who have joined together to preserve, promote, improve, and strengthen our public schools. If you know of a group that would like to join this powerful network, please go here to sign on.
If you have any questions about the NPE Grassroots Education Network please contact Marla Kilfoyle, NPE Grassroots Education Network Liaison at marlakilfoyle@networkforpubliceducation.org
Notes from Marla
In states where groups were working on or posting guidelines for reopening, I provided the link. I hope that this serves as a resource for you should you need it regarding reopening schools in your state. Also in this newsletter you will see many powerful statements on the murder of George Floyd and calls for racial justice. Finally, NPE is hard at work tracking charter schools that are taking Payroll Protection Program money from the COVID stimulus relief funds. This money is meant for small business owners to pay their staff and to help them stay afloat. Charters, like public schools, already have a stream of money, and some charters also have wealthy donors who give them money as well. We hope that you will continue to share the NPE Alert to address this issue with Congress and articles that we share. And let me know if you find a charter school taking PPP in your area.
National Organizing
The Network for Public Education issued a statement on the murder of George Floyd. Defending the Early Years will be holding their conference on a virtual platform this summer (July 21-24). There will be amazing ECE panelists with a Q & A after each discussion. You can register here. DEY has published a series of videos to help our youngest children, and their families, navigate the COVID crisis. DEY issued a statement this month in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. In the Public Interest shared a series of articles that show charter schools are taking crisis aid meant for small businesses. The Journey for Justice Alliance podcast On The Ground, hosted by Jitu Brown, airs every Monday at 6 PM CST. J4J has also postponed their annual conference. Go here for more information. Journey for Justice held a press conference this month to stand with a family in Chicago that were victims of police brutality. Finally J4J will be releasing a draft for a Quality of Life Agenda for Black communities on July 4th. Fairtest joined parents and students in suing the College Board for failures on computerized AP exams. Head to their website for updates. Fairtest publishes a newsletter each week about the misuses and flaws of standardized testing. They are a valuable resource and clearinghouse for everything testing and test reform. Fairtest has published a list of test-optional universities and colleges. Rethinking Schools published valuable resources for police-free schools. The Parent Coalition for Student Privacy blog publishes powerful essays about student privacy. At the end of last month, Joel Schwarz published an article about the concern that parents in Montgomery County, Maryland have about their children’s privacy on Zoom and Google. Parents for Public Schools National Executive Director Joann Mickens issued a CONTINUE READING: Grassroots Education Network- June 2020 Newsletter - Network For Public Education
