Join us for a series of powerful talks, “Public Education and Race: The African American Experience,” that will pique your intellectual curiosity and inspire. The series began with Dr. Jarvis Givens on September 30, speaking on “Fugitive Pedagogy: Carter G. Woodson and the Art of Black Teaching.” Dr. Givens will be followed by Dr. Theresa Perry on Saturday, October 16 at 11am, on “Looking Back to Look Forward: Towards the Theory and Practice of Achievement for African American Students.” And the last lecture in the series will be on October 26 at 6pm, with Dr. Colin Rose, creator of the Culturally Responsive Practices Leadership Academy for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). To register, for free, and for more information, click here. → Read More
Register now for CPS’s Annual Meeting, Thursday, November 18, 7pm, by Zoom
Save the evening of Thursday, November 18, to help us honor three dynamic 2021 campaigns for education justice: the Vocational Education Justice Coalition, the Boston Teachers Union Ethnic Studies Now! organizing committee; and MCAS conscientious objectors (educators).
CPS members and non-members are welcome!
CPS Testimony on Cops in Schools
CPS Board President Dan French testified on Friday, June 11, at the legislative hearing on bills regarding School Resource Officers, also known as cops in schools. Here is his testimony:
Testimony in Support of H648, S286, and H6594
My name is Dan French and I am president of the board of the nonprofit Citizens for Public Schools. I am testifying in favor of H648 and S286, as well as H694. Multiple studies have shown that the presence of school police or SROs in schools increases rates of school arrests, suspensions, and expulsions.[i] For example, one meta-analysis of multiple studies found that the presence of SROs resulted in a greater than 20% increase in suspensions and exclusions.[ii] A study by Citizens for Juvenile Justice (CJJ) and Strategies for Youth found that “Schools with police reported 3.5 times as many arrests as schools without police.”[iii]
And there are additional concerns related to this data. → Read More
What’s your MCAS story?
When students, educators & parents share their MCAS stories, it shows they’re not alone and empowers everyone. We will post stories on our blog, Life under MCAS, and on Twitter & Facebook. Please email us your story at lisa@citizensforpublicschools.org. → Read More
Say No to MCAS – Opt Out ’21
Be a part of this Week of Action to Say No to MCAS! Monday we share a video on how to opt out of MCAS. Watch it here. Mira el video en español, aqui.
Tuesday is a Less Testing, More Learning Twitter storm with the hashtags #CancelMCAS and #NoMCASMA. Join the conversation and spread the word about opting out of MCAS.
Wednesday is a Facebook Livestream with a panel talking about “What if they gave the MCAS and nobody came?”
Thursday is a forum on the Racist History of Standardized Testing with an awesome lineup of speakers.
Tag three friends on Friday and encourage them to opt out.
Join an opt-out rally and caravan in New Bedford on Sunday at 10am, beginning at New Bedford High School.
Sign our opt out petition, below, to send a powerful message to Governor Baker and Commissioner Riley!
→ Read More
