Educate Our State

What are we up to? Why are we doing this? Watch our new animated video and don't forget to share! 

However, cuts were made to transportation. For some districts the pain was minimal for others it is enough to nearly shut them down. In many rural communities, transportation is needed to insure children can get to school. Cuts have nearly decimated their budgets. Learn more here. 

Imagine 100+ engaged, active parents asking "what can we do to help support California Public Education?"  

Camp Educate Highlights include:

* Detailed training from the New Organizing Institute on ways to strategize and organize parent communities across the state to focus on meaningful change.

* Developing regional plans of action that will support statewide planning efforts with discussions around an initiative effort for November 2012.

* Motivating Speakers including Delaine Eastin, Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1995-2003; John Deasy, LAUSD Superintendent of schools, David B. Cohen from Accomplished California Teachers, Assemblymember Julia Brownley, Assemblymember Betsy Butler and Jennifer Fearing from the Humane Society of the United States.

* Plus sharing, bonding, push-ups (yes, push-ups), singing, dancing (yes, dancing), making connections, learning and teaching.

Parents know that no one else is going to stand up for our children and demand better schools. We can't wait any longer...the time is now! If you are interested in learning more about a regional parent community near you that is taking action for our schools, email us.

Wake Up California! Day of Action:   

On Tuesday, May 24th parents and concerned citizens throughout California held rallies to "Wake Up California!" to the crisis facing our public schools. 

At over 20 rally sites we we're pouring coffee and raising awareness. Missed the rally? Check out the media here.

Skeptical that we can make change?

Well, how about if every grassroots parent group, school PTA and PTO, and non-profit with a focus on education from one end of the state to the other joined together in a loose-knit network and took action as one? Then Sacramento would have to listen right? There would be too many of us and we'd be too loud to ignore.  This is Educate Our State, a campaign of like-minded people who believe in Public Education and are willing to fight for it.

Don't believe it's possible? Just watch us. We're parents fighting for our kids' futures. Come join us, as we raise the volume on the issue and force the political will for change. 

Still don't believe it's possible? Watch the video clip below. 

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The Problem: We are Failing Our Children

We are failing our children in California and in doing so jeopardizing our nation and our future public welfare. We educate more than 1 in 8 children in the nation, 6.3 million children, and yet:

• 30% of California high school students do not graduate; over 175,000 students dropped out of school in 2009. Some ethnic groups have dropout rates over 50%.

•  Of those who do graduate, almost 70% of children are not ready for college (Kidsdata.org, 2008).

• National educational surveys show California at the bottom of achievement levels in 4th and 8th grade reading and are lower than those in 43 states. (nces.ed.gov, 2010).

• California has dropped to the bottom of per pupil spending in the U.S., estimates range from 45th in the nation (non-cost adjusted) to dead last with cost adjusted rankings.

By almost every measure, California is failing our students. We are creating a far-reaching social problem with implications in all areas of our community, state and nation including economic decline, increased joblessness, and higher crime rates. 

The Solution:  Parents Need to Stand Up and Demand Change

This is more than an education issue. It is a civil rights issue. We need California to provide its children with high-quality and appropriately-funded public education.

Educate Our State is a nonprofit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, tax id# 27-1686467.

(c) 2011 Educate Our State all rights reserved