Citizens for Public Schools

Jonathan Kozol

“Fire in the Ashes: Public Schools Under Siege — Victims and Survivors”

Come to the CPS 30th Anniversary Mary Ann Hardenbergh Lecture with Jonathan Kozol, author of Letters to a Young Teacher, The Shame of the Nation, Savage Inequalities and many other books, beginning with Death at an Early Age in 1967.

We’re excited to host this inspirational author on September 19, 2012, 7:30 p.m., at Memorial Church in Harvard Yard, Cambridge. His new book, Fire in the Ashes: Twenty-Five Years Among the Poorest Children in America, will be available for purchase and signing by the author.

Note: Online registration for this event is closed, but tickets will be available at the door.   → Read More

Shannon was one of the students featured in Prof. Kruger's film, Children Left Behind, about students who struggled to pass the MCAS and pursue their goals and dreams.

The Patriot Ledger covered a new report by CPS Board Member Louis Kruger about the impact of the MCAS graduation requirement on students with disabilities.

The report looks at the percentage of students with disabilities who have been blocked from high school graduation by the MCAS exams, compared with rates for students without disabilities: “Dr. Louis J. Kruger, who has studied the effect high-stakes testing has on students, said 75 percent of the pupils who failed the MCAS in 2011  were classified as special-education students.”

The Patriot Ledger article continues, ““It appears as if we have this rigorous high school exit exam, but, in reality, virtually the only ones weÂ’re preventing from getting their high school diplomas are students with disabilities,” Kruger said.”   → Read More

CPS Past President Paula Parnagian, current President Ann O'Halloran, Executive Director Marilyn Segal, and Board Members Norma Shapiro and Julie Johnson, from left to right.

CPS’s 30th Anniversary Celebration was vibrant and meaningful.  Over a hundred supporters gathered, sharing hors d’oeuvres and conversation.  Those who were there at the birth of CPS celebrated alongside our newest activists and friends.

The high points of the evening were the awards to those whose efforts marked the beginning, middle and current efforts of CPS to promote, protect and preserve public education.

Rep. Byron Rushing’s 1980s work opposing an amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution that would have allowed public aid to private schools resonates with CPS efforts since 1982 to understand, inform and resist ongoing efforts to privatize all aspects of public education.

The stalwart Gloucester plaintiffs have been resisting the imposition of a charter school for over two years.  They’re on the front lines of a struggle that is affecting communities across Massachusetts and the nation.   → Read More

In the spring of 1982, a small group of committed activists came together to fight a ballot question that threatened to seriously undermine Massachusetts public schools. The coalition named itself Citizens for Public Schools and went on to wage a successful campaign to prevent public aid to private schools.

This year, like 30 years ago, a misnamed and ill-conceived ballot question–backed by a group claiming to speak for children–would undermine our public school educators and students. CPS has joined with others to fight this ballot question, just as we fought and won in 1982.

To honor and continue this important work, we need a party!  On Thursday, June 14, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, a celebratory event in honor of our 30^th Anniversary will be held at the home of Deborah Goldberg and Michael Winter, 37 Hyslop Road, Brookline.

To sponsor, send a greeting in the program, make a donation or buy a ticket online, click here.    → Read More