Philadelphia's schools opened at the start of this school year in the midst of a funding crisis. While state lawmakers dragged their heels on a proposed cigarette tax to provide money for the city's schools, parents, students and teachers took to the streets for a week of protests to demand the full, fair funding their schools … Continued
In California it costs $62,300 per year to imprison someone, but just $9,100 per year to teach a child. A new video from Californians for Safety and Justice challenges us to “do the math” when it comes to expanding the criminal justice system or investing in schools.
“A Perfect Storm: The Takeover of New Orleans Public Schools” is the first in series of short videos that reveals the real story behind the creation of the nation’s first all charter school district. It details the illegal takeover and the academic failure of The Recover School District. The film, which was directed by Phoebe Ferguson … Continued
This May marks the 60th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, but nationwide many students of color are still held back by an inequitable education system. In particularly, they are dispropotionately affected by the mass school closures that are taking place in cities across the country. On a recent episode of … Continued
The first video in a three-part series, "Revival From the Roots: A Tour of Philly’s Neighborhood Schools" follows Jerry Jordan, President of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, and Hellen Gym, parent and education advocate, as they hear firsthand from students, parents and teachers fighting to turn around public education from the bottom up.
Students from Utica, NY, are organizing with OTL allies across the state to support their public schools and fight for fair school funding. Here’s what they have to say!
Parents, students and teachers across the country are fighting for equitable school resources, community solutions and an end to mass school closures. If you’ve been following our series of infographics on school closures, you know that closures disproportionately affect students of color and students from low-income families. Schools are set up to fail through systemic … Continued
On December 9, parents, students, teachers and community members from over 60 cities across the country participated in the National Day of Action to Reclaim the Promise of Public Education. This is what happens when an education movement unites:
Phil Agnew, Executive Director of the Dream Defenders, delivers the first State of the Youth Address, outlining the social justice priorities of millions of young voters and organizers.
As schools have started to abandon ineffective, zero-tolerance discipline policies, students and teachers are showing how alternatives like restorative justice can foster strong, supportive school communities. This video from Oakland, CA, features one such alternative, a student-led circle, in action. This is what school discipline reform can–and should–look like.
