Nearly 1,000 Students Roar "Don't Pink Slip Our Education!" in Sacramento
In the midst of the largest education budget cuts in California state history, when do state leaders hear from those most affected--students of color?
On May 13th, the Campaign for Quality Education (CQE) mobilized nearly one thousand students from across California on the steps of the state capitol building in Sacramento. With a collective voice, they told the Governor and Legislature, "Don't Pink Slip Our Education!"
Highlights of the May 13 action include:
• An enthusiastic rally, featuring poetry, spoken work performances, and speeches from students, teachers, and Assemblywoman Julia Brownley and State Senator Gloria Romero, who both chair the Education Committees for their respective houses
• Over one hundred students, parents and teachers conducted forty legislative visits to State Senators and Assembly members in support of Assembly Bill 8 and Assembly Concurrent Resolution 54, which together would increase budget transparency, raise California's per-pupil average, and fund the actual cost of educating California's diverse student body
• Students Angélica Lemus from Roosevelt High School in Fresno and Eric Adams from Youth Empowerment School in Oakland gave emphatic testimonials about their under-funded and under-resourced schools before the Assembly Education Committee. They also delivered 10,000 postcards signed by students, teachers, and community members in support of "reform (of) our school funding system to guarantee our schools receive sufficient, stable funding every year to deliver a high quality education to all students"
• CQE coverage in print, television, and web-based media outlets including KTVU, YO! Youth Outlook, the California Progress Report, La Opinión, and Vida en el valle
As Californian's for Justice's Communications Director Paul Tran wrote in his editorial "The People Have Spoken" in the California Progress Report: "…we need vision and imagination from our state leadership. A new bill here, a new policy there is nothing without political courage. And until these changes and plans are made, we'll keep coming back to Sacramento and making our voices heard."
SAVE THE DATE: CQE May 13 Action in Sacramento
This May 13th, 2009 the CQE is organizing a mass mobilization to reform education funding and fully invest in a quality education for all students. Hundreds of students, teachers, parents, and community organizations will gather in Sacramento to rally for educational justice and the "100 Percent Prepared for College and Career" Plan.
This plan makes sure that all students in California will be prepared for college, career, and success––not matter where they live or what their economic, racial, or ethnic background is.
The “100 Percent Prepared” Plan is focused on influencing the state of California to invest in a quality education that provides academically rich and relevant curriculum and instruction for all students in kindergarten through twelfth grades that can lead to higher education and well-paid and meaningful work.
PLEASE JOIN AND SUPPORT US!
For a May 13 Action flyer, please click here. To endorse the CQE, please print, sign, and return this form here
To support the Campaign for Quality Education, please click here then print the downloadable postcard and return it to a CFJ or CQE reprentative. For a Spanish-language version, please click here.
Or send an email directly to the Governor telling him "Don't Pink Slip Our Education" by clicking here.
About the Campaign for Quality Education
The "100% Prepared" Plan
This year, the Campaign for Quality Education launched a three-year campaign (2008-2010) called the “100% Prepared” Plan.
This plan makes sure that all students in California will be prepared for college, career, and success––no matter where they live or what their economic, racial, or ethnic background may be.
The “100% Prepared” Plan is focused on influencing the state of California to invest in a quality education that provides academically rich and relevant curriculum and instruction for all students in kindergarten through twelfth grades that can lead to higher education and well-paid and meaningful work.
This plan seeks to increase graduation rates of the most under-served populations in California. We seek to ensure that the State of California provides qualified teachers, challenging and meaningful curriculum, and adequate, equitable funding necessary to prepare all students for higher education and careers.
Over the next three years, the CQE will:
- Work on state-level policies that promote instructional quality at every level and secondary school curriculum that integrates college and career preparation;
- Engage in data advocacy so that students, parents, educators, and community members have the information to hold local districts and schools accountable; and
- Build towards long-term school finance reform that includes:
- Adequate funding for all students to meet high standards;
- Targeted funding for students who depend most on our education system; and
- Stable funding every year to ensure the quality of students’ education is consistent.
Using the 2008-2009 budget debate as an opportunity to highlight issues of educational quality, equity, and funding in the State of California, the Campaign for Quality Education will develop a proactive policy and legislative agenda for 2009 to advance the goals of the “100% Prepared” Plan.
Day of Action Highlights!
Students, parents and teachers from across California braved 100 degree weather to make their voices heard in the state capitol on May 15. Over two thousand students and parents converged on Sacramento to call for better schools and to challenge the governor’s proposed cuts to school funding.