The House Education Committee has passed House Bill 943, a voucher bill that would send your tax dollars to private, virtual, for-profit, and home schools to cover the cost of tuition and other expenses. The bill would provide some students, even some without disabilities, more funding than is allocated for each student attending public schools, and could cost […]
Voucher Bill Headed to House Floor Read More »
The House Education Committee has passed a bill that would allow charter schools to locate in any school district (including A, B, and C districts) without local board approval and would permit students to cross district lines to attend charter schools anywhere in the state, taking their local taxes with them. Ask your legislators to vote NO
Charter Schools in A, B, & C Districts, Calls Needed! Read More »
This year, the education legislation being filed is unprecedented in its hostility toward public schools, despite a clear message from voters that they want public education to flourish. Below is a sampling of the troublesome bills that are online thus far.They include proposals to: decrease funding to public schools and create a tax-paid system of private, for-profit, and virtual schools
Vouchers, Less Funding, More Bureaucracy Pushed by 2016 Legislature Read More »
It’s here! Ed Report is a new service that will send your legislators’ education votes straight to your Facebook news feed. Courtesy of The Parents’ Campaign, Ed Report makes it a snap to see and share your lawmakers’ votes on important education issues like school funding, vouchers, and more. Simply “like” the Ed Report Facebook pages for the lawmakers
The Parents’ Campaign Launches Ed Report Read More »
Tuesday marked the start of the 2016 Legislative Session. So far, the activity has been mostly ceremonial, with legislators being sworn in and statewide officials inaugurated. Rep. Philip Gunn was elected for another term as Speaker of the House, and Rep. Greg Snowden will serve another term as Speaker Pro Tempore (the number two spot
2016 Legislative Session Begins Read More »
All too often, in the halls of the state Capitol, the interests of voters are pushed aside while back room deals and political maneuvers determine the outcome of legislation. For example, in 2012, at the start of the last four-year term, the leadership pushed through a new rule in the House of Representatives that was
As noted last month, the decisions legislators make on corporate tax breaks have a direct impact on the level of funding our children’s schools receive. Special legislative favors, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks granted to corporations over the last few years, are shrinking state revenue. Legislators now propose to
Budget Writers Recommend Cuts for Most State Agencies Read More »
Lawmakers are our voice at the Capitol – don’t stay silent. They are elected to represent us, but legislators cannot vote on behalf of our interests if we don’t tell them what we need and help them understand why we need it. Parents and educators all over the state are organizing Be Our Voice meetings in their school districts. Join
Be Our Voice: Resources for Meetings with Legislators Read More »
“As if my legislators have ever been my voice!” This was the frustrated retort of one of our members to a lawmaker’s claim that Initiative 42 would have eliminated her voice at the Capitol. It sums up well what we have heard from thousands of you: in too many cases, you do not believe that
Are you ready for a more education-friendly Legislature? We can elect one tomorrow! Heads-up: It is critical that you fact-check your candidates before you cast your vote. Some incumbent legislators who have voted consistently against better school funding are claiming in their campaign materials to support full funding of the MAEP. Compare the claims to their actual
