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PAA Action Alert
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Share PAA's position paper on mass school closings
PAA just published a position paper opposing mass school closings. You can read the paper here and download a printable version here. PAA co-founder Julie Woestehoff, of PAA Chicago affiliate PURE in Chicago, will present the paper on Saturday, April 20, at a school closing hearing in Chicago convened by Congressman Bobby Rush and Congressman Danny Davis. Please print and share our position paper with your elected officials.  This week's PAA legislative fax to share
This week our legislative fax highlighted a new study, "Market-oriented education reforms' rhetoric trumps reality," on the effects of market-driven reform in Washington, D.C., New York City and Chicago.
The report concludes that little has been accomplished and some harm has been done to students, especially the underprivileged, udner mayoral control and the push for privatization. You can download and share this fax with your elected representatives.
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PAA and PAAers in the News
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NC news
PAA North Carolina affiliate MecklenburgACTS published two pieces this week.  Their op-ed piece in the News and Observer was mentioned on Diane Ravitch's blog today. Another article on high-stakes testing was posted on the MeckACTS and PAA blogs. Zombie T-shirts are now available here. Public Schools First, a group in North Carolina founded by PAA founding members Pamela Grundy and Natalie Beyer, among others, was also mentioned in a piece on Diane Ravitch's blog.
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| Join us! |
If you share our overall goals of progressive, positive education reform and more parent input in education policy making, we invite you to affiliate with us if you are an existing group, or to form a new PAA chapter. The more of us there are, the stronger our voice will be at every level. Here's how! |
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PAA Chapter and Affiliate News
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Play-In success in Chicago: More playing, less testing! 
The "Play-In" organized by More Than a Score in Chicago, with help from PAA Chicago affiliate Parents United for Responsible Education, went a long way towards illustrating the dangers of standardized testing in the early childhood years, and the power of play-based learning.
The event was held in a hallway outside of the Chicago Public Schools headquarters (the children were not allowed to play in the CPS lobby itself...).
People all over the U.S. are reacting with enthusiasm to the Play-In idea. Here's the press release with details of the event. Please share, and consider hosting a Play-In near you!
Fantastic photos by the wonderful Sara-Ji below and here.
Check out the More Than a Score web site for more.
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| PAA Blog Highlights |
Keep up with our blog for more news and commentary on public education from the parents' point of view. |
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If you have questions, comments, suggestions or stories to share, please e-mail us at info@parentsacrossamerica.org or visit www.parentsacrossamerica.org.
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