Deciding the Course: Parents' Roles in Impacting DoE Decisions - New Task Force Meeting, October 22nd

NYC Council members Letitia James and Bill de Blasio, in conjunction with the Alliance for Quality Education & The NYC Coalition for Educational Justice, have invited the PS 29 PTA to join in the formation of a Special Task Force aimed at getting parents more say in how Department of Education decisions are made, in the face of Mayoral control being up for reauthorization next year. Fist meeting is this Wednesday, October 22nd, from 5:30-8:00 PM. Please click the flyer for more information. If you're interested in attending with members of the PTA Board, please send us an email!

PROTECTING NYC CLASSROOMS, SPEAKER QUINN IDENTIFIES ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION CUTS AND PRESENTS IDEAS TO STRENGTHEN MAYORAL CONTROL

In remarks delivered yesterday at a Crain's Business Breakfast Forum, Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn identified approximately $160 million in alternative cuts to New York City schools and discussed several proposals to strengthen and improve Mayoral control over the City's public schools. Read the press release or full text of her remarks.

Stop The Budget Cuts! Let Your Voice Be Heard! Rally @ 4 PM Today!

Meet at the school shortly after pick up, or meet up with the PS 29 contingent at City Hall, but please head to the protest rally at 4:00 PM to stand up for our kids and the education they deserve! Click the flyer for details!

REMINDER: Fight the Budget Cuts! Join Bill de Blasio Tomorrow Evening!

Fight the New York City school budget cuts! Unite Brooklyn! In addition to parent-teacher conferences tomorrow, please also join NYC Council Member Bill de Blasio, other elected officials, education advocates, PTAs and Community Education Councils (CECs) for an informational and strategizing session on Thursday, March 13th from 7:00-9:00 PM at St. Francis College, 180 Remsen Street, 1st Floor (between Court and Clinton Sts.). Click the flyer above for further details about this important meeting!

Fight the School Budget Cuts! Join Council Member Bill de Blasio on Thursday, March 13th!

Fight the New York City school budget cuts! Unite Brooklyn! Please join NYC Council Member Bill de Blasio, other elected officials, education advocates, PTAs and Community Education Councils (CECs) for an informational and strategizing session on Thursday, March 13th from 7:00-9:00 PM at St. Francis College, 180 Remsen Street, 1st Floor (between Court and Clinton Sts.). Click the flyer above for further details about this important meeting!

NYC Council Hearing on Progress Reports Next Monday; Petition Deadline Is Friday!

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM THE PS 29 SLT AND PTA!

Robert Jackson, Chair of the City Council Education Committee, will oversee a public hearing on the Progress Reports for Schools (otherwise known as the school report cards) this coming Monday, December 10th at 9:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall.

This is our one and only chance to deliver our petitions to the DOE with the media in attendance. The DOE will present first and council members will question them. Then it will be the parents' turn.

If you can, please plan to spend the morning at City Hall so your voice can be heard. Time Out From Testing—a statewide coalition of parent, educator, business, community, and civil rights organizations in New York State committed to a "time-out" from excessive and high stakes exams—is hoping to pack the Chambers and show the DOE that parents must be heard!

PETITION AND LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGN DEADLINE EXTENDED TO THIS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7TH!

An easy way to express concern regarding the School Progress Reports is to sign the Time Out From Testing's online petition. Spanish version is here.

Please visit Time Out From Testing for fact sheets, a round up of news coverage of the Progress Reports, and other information.