(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 … →

This power point presentation was shared at the 2017 Network for Public Education conference in Oakland CA. The panel was put together by FairTest, with Monty Neill moderating and presenting. Also on the panel were Julie Woestehoff, PAA interim executive director, Dr. Jaime Colly, University of San Francisco School of Education and Grand Canyon University, and Andrea Gabor, author of After the Education Wars: How Smart Schools Upend the Business of Reform. You can also view Julie’s presentation here: Chicago … →

The following slide presentation was made on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, at the Network for Public Education conference in Oakland, CA: Real parent choice – real parent voice: How Parents Across America connects the dots – and parents — to fight corporate reform While public school parents/families bear the brunt of corporate education reform, our voices are too often drowned out by well-funded astroturf groups and politicians’ pandering to their donors’ pet causes. This session will demonstrate how Parents Across … →

It’s another amazing teachable moment, and this time the teachers are some of our children’s biggest heroes. Scores of NFL players and team owners have been protesting police brutality and racial inequality during the playing of the national anthem at the start of recent football games. Controversy has flared. But no amount of heated rhetoric about patriotism or respect can cover up the truth about racism and inequity in America. PAA has been working on this issue for the past … →

The Network for Public Education is the nation’s foremost public school advocacy group. NPE connects all those who are passionate about our schools – students, parents, teachers and citizens – to preserve, promote, improve and strengthen public schools for both current and future generations of students. The annual NPE conference is a time when advocates get together to share ideas, challenges and successes. It’s a great time to meet face to face with people you know so well online (Diane … →

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos made a short stealth tour of a handful of states this week with a demand that we all “rethink schools.” She gave Wyoming school officials less than a day to prepare for her visit, but 30 activists were motivated enough to turn out to protest her bad ideas. PAA’s interim executive director Julie Woestehoff, who lives in Wyoming (though on the other side of the state where DeVos visited), sent this letter to the main state-wide … →