Your Public School Under Attack: Organizing to Fight Back!

Massachusetts public schools are among the nation’s best, so why are 82% of them labeled failures by No Child Left Behind? Flawed tests are being used to misjudge and label our schools, students and teachers. What can you do?

Join with other concerned teachers, parents and elected officials Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Bayside Expo Center to share information and experiences, and to organize to defend and enhance our public schools. Only by working together can we move toward sensible assessment policies and quality public schools for every child. Click here to register now.

The conference will begin with an introduction and morning panel addressing MCAS Reform; The Struggle to Preserve Boston Schools; Organizing Parents Across America; and Exposing “Astroturf” (i.e., not really grass roots) education groups. Speakers include Ruth Rodriguez Fay (CPS), Sharon Guzik (Medford School Committee), Alain Jehlen, Sandra McIntosh (Co-chair, Coalition for Equal Quality Education), Paula Parnagian (President, CPS), State Rep. Carl Sciortino, Rita Solnet (President, Parents Across America), and Richard Stutman (President, Boston Teachers Union).

Morning and afternoon workshops will include:  High-stakes Testing; Charter School Financing, Threats to Urban Public Schools; State Legislative Process; Investing in Public Higher Education; Youth Organizing and the School-to-Prison Pipeline, and Organizing Parents and School Committees.

The workshops will provide key background information and then develop practical campaigns and tactics for CPS in the coming year. Presenters include Paul Dunphy (CPS), State Rep. Jamie Eldridge, Barbara Fields (CPS), Julie Johnson (MTA), Prof. Lou Kruger (Northeastern Univ.), Jose Lopez (Teacher Activists Group), State Rep Frank Smizik, Ann O’Halloran (CPS and MTA Retirees), and Prof. Deborah Polin (UMass Amherst).

For online registration, information and directions, click here, or call 617-227-3000.

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