The promise of public education is simple. First, schools should provide equal opportunity for all students despite factors like race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Second, those closest to the education process – teachers, administrators, school staff, students, their parents, and community members – must have a voice in education policy and practice.
However, over the past 18 years, top-down approaches to education policy have greatly weakened Newark public schools and now threaten to derail the long track record of success that public schools have had across our state for generations.
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO will join with national AFT President Randi Weingarten, our union brothers and sisters from the Newark Teachers Union as well as community partners including Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc., the Newark Students Union, and the Newark NAACP to reaffirm community control of Newark public schools and to reiterate the need for equal opportunity and fair funding. Details for next week’s action are as follows:
Date:
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Monday, December 9, 2013
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Time:
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3:30 p.m.
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Place:
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March from 30 Clinton Street to the office of NJ Education Commissioner Chris Cerf at 1 Gateway Center, Newark, NJ 07102.
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Schools remain a beacon of opportunity for our state’s children, and your support is critical to ensuring that the Newark community remains a prevailing voice in the effort to improve local schools and help students harness the opportunity of a quality education.