March 2019 Grassroots Education Network Newsletter
I am very proud to present our first newsletter! As we discussed in our February meeting I will be putting out the NPE Grassroots Education Network Newsletter at the end of each month. NPE is honored to do this work with you and inspired by all that you are doing for our children and public schools. First order of business – please fill out this poll to secure a date for our April meeting. The poll will close on 4/7 and I will send an email out as to the date most of us can attend. The NPE Grassroots Education Network is now over 100 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 up.
If you have any questions about the NPE Grassroots Education Network please contact Marla Kilfoyle, NPE Grassroots Liaison at marlakilfoyle@networkforpubliceducation.org
NPE Remembers Phyllis Bush
This month the NPE community and the nation lost a warrior for public education. To read the NPE statement honoring founding Board member, Phyllis Bush please go here. Please consider donating what you can to The Phyllis Bush Memorial Award Fund. Services for Phyllis Bush will be Saturday, May 4 at 11 a.m. in Fort Wayne. Of course, she requested that guests wear red for public ed.
National Organizing
NPE Grassroots Education Network national organizations are on the move for public education. Defending the Early Years launched its 4th mini-documentary in the “Teachers Speak Out” series. In this mini-documentary, early childhood educator Kisha Reid expertly describes how play-based environments spark creativity and are crucial for the developing brain. In the Public Interest viral video on why charter schools are such a controversy is a must watch and share! The Journey for Justice Alliance has launched a new Podcast called “On The Ground.” It is featured on Mondays at 6 PM CST and hosted by Jitu Brown! You can subscribe on Soundplay here. Fairtest pumps out weekly information about the movements on testing resistance across the nation. Their weekly newslettercomes out each Monday and is a must for anyone fighting corporate education reform.
Student Privacy Matters continues to update the nation on data privacy issues across the country. Make sure you check out their website and their new State Privacy Student Report Card, which was co-sponsored by NPE. Parents for Public Schools National was present at the CNN’s Town Hall broadcast live from Jackson, MS. PPS Executive Director Joann Mickens, PPS PEP Graduate Stephanie Eubanks-Wright, and Schoolhouse to Statehouse Community Coordinator Becky Heavner were invited to attend and submit questions for Senator Elizabeth Warren. Check out this link for the video.
The Schott Foundation continues to host informative webinars such as What If We Used Wealth to Heal, Not Harm? To keep up with their webinar series, reports, and movements visit them here. The Badass Teachers Association track and elevate teacher voice all over the country. To find out what teachers are up to, how they are mobilizing, and how they are fighting for education justice check out the movements of BATs. Go here for more information. Finally, The Network for Public Education released a blistering reporton how the federal government wastes hundreds of millions of dollars on defunct charter schools. NPE is also asking organization to take action regarding this waste. Go here to take action.
NPE Grassroots Education Network – State Organizations On the Move for Public Education
Please use this clearinghouse of information to inform people in the various states about the NPE Grassroots Education Network organizations. Please encourage people to join them and support their work! Call on family, friends, and colleagues to join the fight to save public education!
Alabama
SOS (Save our Schools) is reporting that the Alabama legislature is repealing Common Core.
Arizona
Voices for Education will be hosting a screening of Backpack Full of Cash on April 2nd. For more information go here. Arizonans for Charter School Accountability expose BASIS Charter Schools and how they waste taxpayer dollars. To learn more go here. Save our Schools Arizona roadshow is now available statewide! Invite them to your Rotary Club meeting, book club, community center, even your kitchen table. Their presenters will provide your group with a concise, factual and nonpartisan overview of the history of education funding in Arizona as well as current issues and paths forward. Go here for more information.
California
California Educators Rising continue to follow the movement of teacher strikes in California. To keep up with the Oakland, UTLA, and Sacramento teacher strikes go here. CONTINUE READING: March 2019 Grassroots Education Network Newsletter - Network For Public Education
