We mentioned many different issues on our Summer 2017 national parent survey. Here are links to PAA resources that address some of these issues.   EdTech: Documentation paper on the risks of misuse and overuse of digital technology “Our Children @ Risk: PAA Challenges EdTech” PAA opposes federal and state initiatives that undermine student data privacy Please also see “Parents Toolkit for Student Privacy”   Test Stress: Parents Stand up Against Test Stress (July 2015 rev. Feb 2016) Fact Sheet: … →

Thank you for participating in our parent survey! We invite you to join our newsletter mailing list and sign up for our contest drawing! To sign up for the newsletter, please fill out the information here. Enter the contest drawing by completing the survey. At the end of the survey is a space to include your name and mailing address, which is optional but will enter you into the contest. Prizes include the following books signed personally by the authors: … →

US Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was recently in Salt Lake City speaking at a $3000 per person event. Here’s a highlight of her speech, which clearly indicates DeVos’s limited understanding of the value and role of public education: “The simple fact is that if a school is not meeting a child’s unique needs, then that school is failing that child. Think of it like your cell phone. AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile may all have great networks, but if you can’t … →

For some time now, PAA has been raising red flags about the rapidly expanding use of education technology (EdTech) in our schools. Last summer we published a series of fact sheets and a 35-page documentation paper detailing some of the many concerns we have about EdTech. Since then, we have urged parents to ask questions at your local schools and supported legislative and other efforts to require more transparency and accountability from EdTech programs and businesses. PAA’s concerns are multi-faceted. … →

We are so pleased that a committee of the Maryland state legislature is considering a bill to establish health and safety guidelines for the use of digital devices in schools. This is a great model for other states. We suggest that you contact your state legislators (and you could also try local city officials) asking them to introduce a similar bill. Here’s a sample email: Dear (legislator) We would like to request that you consider sponsoring a bill in this … →

We included the following message in today’s fax message to Congress. A pdf version of this information is here: voucherstudies3-17: Parents Across America (PAA) is very concerned that, in his speech to Congress last night, President Trump renewed his call to spend millions of federal education dollars on school vouchers. His Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, is also a strong voucher proponent. PAA opposes voucher programs because they redirect scarce money away from our public school system, may cross constitutional lines … →

PAA traditionally sends a letter to every new Congress to introduce ourselves and share our vision for public education. We’re finally getting around to it this year, a bit late but certainly in time to address the debacle of the Trump-DeVos “parent town hall” a week ago, to which only one public school parent was invited, and the President’s promo of vouchers in his speech to Congress a couple of days ago. Here’s the letter we just faxed to nearly … →

Parents Across America supports Maryland HB866  and SB1089 National parent group has prepared extensive materials about the harmful effects on children’s academic, intellectual, emotional, physical and social development when digital devices are misused and overused February 21, 2017 The national parent group, Parents Across America (PAA), strongly endorses legislative proposals being considered by the Maryland House Ways and Means Committee that would provide some guidelines for the safe use of digital devices in the classroom. In August, 2016, PAA released … →

Tomorrow, the Maryland House Ways and Means Committee will consider a cutting-edge proposal to protect schoolchildren from the effects of too much screen time. From the committee’s press release today: The House Ways and Means Committee of the Maryland General Assembly will hear legislation on Friday, February 24th at 1:00 that directs the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) to craft safety guidelines for the use of digital devices in Maryland public schools. Delegate Steven Arentz (R-District 36) … →

PAA sent the following letter to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to welcome her to the position and to raise some concerns about her intentions, especially in light of the parent town hall meeting she and President Trump held past week. Of the 7 parents who were invited, three were home schoolers, three were charter and private school parents and two were home schoolers. We suggested that they really should call PAA so that they can hear from a somewhat more … →