Come to a meeting! First Tuesday of each month: General meeting, 6:30pm - 8:00 p.m. at 1112 N. Branciforte (North of Water Street). All interested parties are invited to attend. For more info call the School Voices info line at 831-469-4230. Would you like an opportunity to learn more about the important issues facing our children and our schools today? School Voices Presents! A Video and Discussion Series "Making the Grade" Thursday, November 20th 6:30 - 8:00pm Santa Cruz Central Library 224 Church Street (Community Meeting Room upstairs) This recent, joint production by The Discovery Channel and The New York Times is an investigative report into the standardized testing industry and the Federal "No Child Left Behind" Act. Join us as we view the 45 minute video and participate in a discussion led by School Voices moderator, Heddi Craft. New Television Series from School Voices Watch for School Voices' new series on Community Television! Our second episode will be taped on June 13th (airdates to be announced). June 13th, 2003: "School Voices Presents! Public School Opportunities" with: Priscilla Smart, Ocean Alternative Education Center, Program Coordinator, Live Oak District Homeschool Tanya Krause, Principal for the Ark, Monarch and Independent Studies, Santa Cruz City Schools Betsy Hamilton, Director of Student Support Services, Santa Cruz City Schools Eric Schoffstall, Director of Personnel/Charter Schools, San Lorenzo Valley These representatives from our local educational community will be speaking with us about the many the different kinds of public school programs available to parents and guardians in Santa Cruz County. Click here for a copy of the supplemental information listed at the end of this show. Our first episode: March 7th, 2003: EDUCATIONAL FUNDING CRISIS: A CONVERSATION WITH ASSEMBLYMEMBER JOHN LAIRD AND SUPERINTENDENT KEITH PARKHURST Click here for a copy of the supplemental information listed at the end of this show. This show was taped on March 7th, and aired on Channel 27 on Monday, April 14th, 2003 at 9:00 p.m. and then was repeated on the same channel on Wednesday, April 16th, 2003 at 8:00 p.m., and again on Saturday, April 19th, 2003 at 8:30 p.m. Support Californians for Justice Californians for Justice is working on two campaigns that we support. Please read more about their Eyes On Education Campaign in San Jose and their opposition to the Racial Ignorance Initiative. Petition Drive (ongoing) The California Federation of Teachers passed a resolution at their convention to Stop SAT 9 Testing. This resolution directs CFT to distribute our enclosed petition to all its locals. This means our local petition drive has now become a statewide drive with support from CFT. The other union, California Teachers Association, has many members distributing petitions throughout the state as well. What can you do to help you ask? Simple. Copy the revised petition, collect signatures and mail it back to us. If you have copies of the earlier petition you can still send them in. Please make copies to give to friends and colleagues and ask them to collect signatures. Email people you know would support this and they can download a copy of the petition here or we can email it directly to you when you contact us at www.schoolvoices.org or call us at 831-469-4280. If you want to help out by spending an hour at a friendly local event to gather signatures, call us and we can give you some ideas where to go for signatures. Call your legislators, your union reps, your child's teacher and ask them if they have heard about this petition drive and what they plan to do about it. Organize petition-signing table on the mall or in front of the theaters. These petitions were collected and presented to members of the Legislature at the end of May. However, we are still collecting signatures as they come in. Contact School Voices with questions, suggestions or ideas at 831-469-4280 or e-mail us. Home Page