Urged on by the worsening state budget crisis, a group of parents from across the Bay Area have joined together to mobilize other parents to reform the way California funds education.
The new effort grew from a phenomenally successful fundraising drive, which saved teacher jobs in the Cupertino school district, and from growing campaigns in other districts.
About 60 parents, most from the South Bay but some coming from as far away as San Francisco and Oakland, joined the kickoff in San Jose last week of the nonprofit advocacy group Educacy.
"The more people speak up, the more organizations that get involved, the better it will be for our schools," said Hoi Yung Poon, the group's executive director. "There's just not enough money for our schools."
The group hopes to tap into the potential of parents to influence state education policy, which is shaped by the Legislature but swayed heavily by taxpayer groups, teacher unions and educator lobbies.
"Elected officials hear from many special-interest groups, but not from many parents. We want to change that," Poon said.
To do that, the group plans to host workshops, promote candidate debates and help get out the vote. It's already
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