Brad Lander Invites Parents to Help Protect and Improve Local Schools

Hey, public school parents! Just got this email from Councilmember Brad Lander:

The snow day seemed like a good time to write about public schools. Like many of you, public education is one of the issues I feel most passionately about -- based on my own experience as a parent, on the many stories of triumph and frustration that I've heard from families across the district, and on the belief that public education is the bedrock of a city that aspires to genuine opportunity for all its kids.

So I was excited on Wednesday night to convene a meeting of parent leaders from across the district. We met to brainstorm and strategize about some of the key issues facing our schools -- budget cuts, testing policy, overcrowding, environmental sustainability, healthier school food, special needs education, after-school programs, and support for PTAs.

Together, we started to develop plans to make a real difference in our local schools. Some of the highlights included:

• Healthier school food: Building on the great work already taking place in individual schools toward a district-wide initiative.
• Confronting expanded testing policy: Organizing a coordinated push against Kidergarten-2nd grade testing in our elementary schools
• Fighting budget cuts to the classroom: Strengthening the network of parents, students, administrators, and teachers organizing to prevent devastating cuts.

If you are interested in getting involved in these efforts, please contact Jessica Turner at jturner@council.nyc.gov or (718) 499-1090.