Today, Parents Across America joined more than 20 civic and children’s advocacy organizations in filing a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaint against Google for violating the Children’s Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA) in operating YouTube in ways that target, collect information on, and market to children without parental notification. The complaint asks the FTC to subjet Google to penalties that could total in the billions of dollars. The complaint details how Google, which owns You Tube, makes substantial profits … →

March 15, 2018 – In light of yet another horrifying attack on innocent students, Parents Across America (PAA) calls on all parents to step up our efforts to protect our children, and demand our voices be heard and our actions respected. There’s no more time for being passive, or being intimidated by school systems, legislators, corporate education reformers and weapons manufacturers. They will not hinder our voices; we need to be heard. For too long, parents have been marginalized even … →

PAA has selected Wal*Mart and the Walton Foundation as the “winners” of our first Bad Apple of the Month award. We know that Wal*Mart is the go-to store for many public school families. We understand that cost is an important factor, if not the main factor, in where many families shop. We get it. Bear with us, and if after you read this, you decide to reconsider where you shop, we will we will give you some alternative ideas. You … →

Each month, PAA will present a Bad Apple award to a corporation, program, individual, etc. we believe has caused harm to public education and public school families. We will also occasionally present a Good Apple award to a corporation, program, individual, etc., we believe has demonstrated noteworthy support for public education and public school families. The Good Apples are individuals, programs, organizations, corporations, foundations, etc. PAA considers to be supportive of public education in at least some of their activities. … →

Parents Across America fiercely opposes any effort to arm teachers against intruders, an irrational plan that is clearly designed to avoid the essential, thoughtful policy decisions about gun control that most Americans want, and that must be made in order to more effectively protect our children from the growing threat of mass school shootings. Never has it been more obvious that the NRA and gun sellers value weapon sales more than human life, even the lives of children. President Trump’s … →

(This post is a slightly modified version of an excellent essay by PAA Board member Deb Mayer, founder of PAA-Oregon.) Parents Across America (PAA) commends Maryland’s State Delegate Steven J. Arentz and the thirty-two co-sponsors of HB 1110, a proposal to protect Maryland students from the health hazards that medical experts have for many years associated with daily use of digital devices. We thank them for listening to parents and encourage lawmakers across the nation to do the same by … →

(Our list is in formation as we begin this new program naming a Bad Apple each month. Please look at the bottom of this page for other similar lists, for further information, and to find out how you can nominate a Good or Bad Apple.) The following are the individuals, programs, organizations, corporations, foundations, etc. that PAA considers to have taken action/s that harm public school families. We don’t necessarily oppose everything each of those listed below have ever done; … →

Today, Parents Across America and dozens of other organizations and experts sent a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, urging him to drop Messenger Kids, a new program designed for young children. The letter is below, and, with all footnotes and list of signatories, at this link. You can sign the related petition here. Many thanks to the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood for their work in getting this campaign and letter together. January 30, 2018 Mark Zuckerberg Chief Executive … →

Here’s the fax we sent today to every member of Congress: Parent Voices Education Fax December 7, 2017 Public Education at risk – parents want federal tax fixes Dear Representative, Parents Across America recently shared with you a summary of the results of our first national parent survey, “Real Parent Voice – Real Parent Choice.” Survey responses confirmed our concern that too much of the current education policy making happens without any meaningful parent input, and often in complete opposition … →

Last July, the indomitable Congresswoman Maxine Waters used the procedural strategy of “reclaiming my time” to prevent Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin from running out the clock with non-responsive testimony in an appearance before the House Financial Services Committee. Rep. Waters’ repetition of the phrase “reclaiming my time” in the face of a powerful person’s attempts to brush her off struck a nerve with many, sending those three words viral. PAA created a t-shirt to honor that sentiment, one that you … →