We hear that the American Academy of Pediatrics is planning to consider new screentime guidelines for children at their annual conference this October. Currently, their position is that: “Children and teens should engage with entertainment media for no more than one or two hours per day, and that should be high-quality content. It is important for kids to spend time on outdoor play, reading, hobbies, and using their imaginations in free play. Television and other entertainment media should be avoided … →

We reached out to Dr. Nicholas Kardaras, author of the just-released book, “Glow Kids: How Screen Addiction is Hijacking our Kids — and How to Break the Trance,” and received his permission to share the excellent sample digital learning opt out letter that is included in the book (see below). Dr. .Kardaras says, “Parents and schools have been misled by tech companies into believing that educational technology leads to better school outcomes; but the research just doesn’t bear that out. … →

Press release *** For immediate release: August 22, 2016 Contact: Laura Bowman, PAA-Roanoke Valley: 540-819-6385 Julie Woestehoff, PAA interim executive director: 773-715-3989 Our Children @ Risk Parents raise alarm about EdTech’s harmful effects on children’s academic, intellectual, emotional, physical and social development Echoing the 1983 “Nation at Risk” report, Parents Across America (PAA) today declares, “If an unfriendly foreign power had attempted to impose on America the takeover of public education by digital technology that threatens our children’s health and … →

PAA has spent extensive time looking into quantities of writing and research that raise red flags about the impact of the EdTech explosion on our children. This high-pressure movement has brought a mishmash of digital devices and online and other pre-packaged programs into our schools, where they are promoted as “personalized,” “competency-based,” “student-centered,” or “self-directed” learning, terms which we refer to together as EdTech. What we have found out about the EdTech push alarms us, and should alarm any parent. … →

Summary report – PAA Leadership Conference 2016 Parents Across America held our fourth annual leadership conference in Philadelphia PA from July 18-20, with twenty great leaders from twelve states. Most were in the room and some joined us online. We had an excellent mix of new and returning leaders and of geography, cultural background, age, and gender (three men!!!). What we discussed, experienced, and learned We had a rich program of discussion, sharing, learning and planning over one full and … →

PAA submitted the following comments to the federal Department of Education on the proposed draft ESSA regulations: PAA comments on ESSA draft regulations July 29, 2016 Parents Across America is a grassroots organization that connects parents of all backgrounds across the United States to share ideas and work together to improve our nation’s public schools. PAA is committed to bringing the voice of public school par­ents – and common sense – to local, state, and national education debates. We currently … →

PAA’s Leadership Conference 2016 begins in less than a week (July 18-20). We have another terrific lineup of sessions and events that will help empower parents and strengthen PAA as an organization. For those who can’t join us in person, we will be sharing most of our sessions online with non-attending PAA chapter and affiliate leaders, and two sessions with the general public. We will also record and post some of the sessions after the conference. In order to join … →

PAA sent the following message to US House and Senate education committee members: Parents concerned that proposed new ESSA regulations push failed NCLB practices, try to retake top-down control The US Department of Education has published draft regulations for implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act, or ESSA. Parents Across America has reviewed these draft rules and we are very concerned that the administration is trying to use them to reestablish policies and practices from NCLB?ESEA that were rejected by Congress … →

PAA plans to spend some time during our conference reviewing and preparing comments to submit to the US Dept. of Education in response to their draft regulations for implementing the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). From what we hear from FairTest, we will need to scrutinize all aspects of these regulations. Here’s a letter they are circulating with details of their concerns:   Dear Friends, The U.S. Department of Education (DoE) has drafted regulations for implementing the accountability provisions … →