Got $7 million to influence PA policymakers? How about 2 hours of your time in October to remind them that you vote and you value your kids' education?

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Got $7 million to influence PA policymakers?  How about 2 hours of your time in October to remind them that you vote and you value your kids' education?

PA PASS (Parent Advocates for Public Education to Achieve Student Success)

Legislative Forum in Delaware County Thursday October 13^th at 7:00 pm

Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, 601 N. Lansdowne Ave. Drexel Hill

If you are in southeastern PA, please consider filling up a car with school parents and attending this meeting.  Please ask attendees to RSVP in advance at delcolegislativeforum.eventbrite.com    If you are not close by, consider joining with your neighboring school districts to hold a similar event.  If you are interested in helping out please contact Marian Rucci, Delco PA PASS County Coordinator at .rucci.papass@live.com

 "It is an act of civil disobedience to call attention to the damage being done to community based public schools by the high stakes testing regime implemented by the corporate reformers."

The Slekar Family Stands Up and Opts Out

Education Week Living In Dialogue Blog By Anthony Cody on September 14, 2011 8:55 PM

Recently we have heard news of more and more parents taking a stand against standardized testing, acting in what they believe to be the best interests of their children. Two of the leaders of this movement are Tim and Michelle Slekar, of Pennsylvania. I asked them if they would share their perspective. 

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2011/09/the_slekar_family_stands_up_an_1.html

Published Online: September 14, 2011

GOP Senators Introduce Own ESEA Renewal Bills

Education Week By Alyson Klein

Premium article access courtesy of Edweek.org.

Washington

A group of key U.S. Senate Republicans—led by Sen. Lamar Alexander, of Tennessee, a former U.S. secretary of education—are going their own way on reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act.

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/09/14/04esea.h31.html?tkn=UROF6iPfFG9aWEhAD2g9bOBtWZE1DUvcyiY4&cmp=clp-edweek&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EducationWeekWidgetFeed+%28Education+Week%3A+Free+Widget+Feed%29

Nearly 6 in 10 grads not ready for college

Those in Pa. are more prepared but still below national average

Thursday, September 15, 2011

By Bill Schackner, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A new benchmarking tool unveiled by the College Board Wednesday offers a sobering assessment of the likelihood of success for many of this year's high school graduates with college aspirations.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11258/1174811-298.stm#ixzz1Y0evuy5s

Posted at 05:13 PM ET, 09/14/2011

What the decline in SAT scores really means

Washington Post Answer Sheet Blog By Valerie Strauss

Anybody paying attention to the course of modern school reform will not be very surprised by this news: Newly released SAT scores show that scores in reading, writing and even math are down over last year and have been declining for years. And critical reading scores are the lowest in 40 years.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/what-the-decline-in-sat-scores-really-means/2011/09/14/gIQAdUzdSK_blog.html

NSBA's School Board News Today

U.S. House passes misguided charter schools bill

NSBA expressed disappointment yesterday with the recent vote in the U.S. House of Representatives to provide $300 million in additional federal funds to support charter schools.

On Tuesday, the House voted 365 to 54 in favor of H.R. 2218, the Empowering Parents through Quality Charter Schools Act, which expands a federal program to provide state grants for charter school start-ups. NSBA had urged members of Congress to reject the bill.

http://schoolboardnews.nsba.org/2011/09/nsbahouse-charter-school-bill-costlymisguided/