April 30, 2013 TX House Public Education Committee Hearing Public Testimony of Lorie Barzano Good afternoon/Evening, Committee members, guests. My name is Lorie Barzano, a public school parent, taxpayer and Chair of the Coalition to Strengthen Austin Urban Schools (SAUS), a local affiliate of Parents Across America. We are a parent led group committed to quality, accessible Public Education for all children. As parents, we actively work to support our neighborhood schools and make a concerted effort to educate ourselves … →

This blog was written last night by PAA founding member Rita Solnet. Today’s news was huge – Rita, PAA and other parents and parent groups in Florida have defeated the parent trigger there. More on that later, But meanwhile, some valuable insight from Rita:   Watching the Florida Senate debate the so-called Parent Empowerment bill, is like watching an episode of Truth or Dare. The bill’s sponsor, Senator Kelli Stargel (R)- Lakeland,  clumsily danced around answers to pertinent questions, like, … →

Parent Voices Weekly Education Fax April 24, 2013 Parents oppose “parent trigger” laws The story: Support for parent trigger laws isn’t parent-based or local. The Florida legislature is currently debating a controversial “parent trigger” law which could hand public schools over to a private management company if 51% of a school’s parents sign a petition requesting that change. Parent trigger laws are being pushed across the nation by astroturf groups like Parent Revolution and Students First, and wealthy foundations such … →

By Rita Solnet Magicians call it misdirection. Salesmen call it diversion. Senators call it Amendments. Some Florida legislators are well versed in the David Copperfield method of passing hotly contested bills. Using sleight of hand, they slap on an amendment and then create the illusion that – abracadabra – all concerns are resolved, all opposition is appeased. Florida’s controversial Senate Bill 862, the Parent Empowerment bill, would create a parent trigger law enabling parents to collect signatures from 51% of … →