Every child deserves a quality public education. But not every child receives one. Through leadership, engagement and action parents build the power and voice to make a difference.

Quality public education is a fundamental right of every person and essential to a democratic society. Yet students in communities of color are systematically denied the resources and conditions they need to succeed.

PLAN believes the solution rests in the grassroots efforts of parents working together to push for systemic change. Every parent – that is, anyone who serves as a primary caregiver for a child – is a valuable asset in the community and capable of being a leader. All parents – regardless of race, income, language, immigration status, etc. – must have power, access and skills to be partners in the leadership and transformation of schools

Vision

In PLAN’s vision of schools:

• Schools that are adequately and equitably funded so that every student receives a quality education, regardless of their zip code

• Parents of all backgrounds welcomed and fully engaged as partners, leaders, and decision-makers at every school in every district
• Teachers and administrators respecting, valuing, and responding to diverse student cultures and learning styles
• Curriculum and teaching that is vital, culturally relevant, and encourages curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking
• School environments and facilities that are safe, respectful, healthy, and well-equipped
• Students who graduate from high school 100% prepared for college and career and committed to a lifetime of learning

Mission

PLAN is a regional network working to unite and strengthen diverse parents and organizations to promote racial justice in public education through training, leadership development, organizing, and advocacy.

Values

• Parent knowledge, leadership, and power
• Democratic organizations and institutions
• Community organizing and collective action toward systemic change
• Social and racial justice
• Dignity and respect for students and parents

Beliefs

1. Quality public education is a fundamental right of every person and essential to a democratic society

• The quality of life in a community is linked to the quality of its public schools
• Students of color are systematically denied a quality education in the US, as evidenced by persistently high drop out rates and low achievement rates among African American and Latino students
• Schools in communities of color are overwhelmingly under-resourced, characterized by higher teacher turnover, fewer qualified teachers, more overcrowding, deteriorating facilities, and chaotic, unsafe environments
• Education reform solutions must address the root causes of educational inequity, namely institutional racism.

2. Parents are uniquely positioned as leaders of social change in public schools

• A “parent” is anyone who serves as a primary caregiver for a child, including guardians, kin caregivers, adoptive and foster parents
• Every parent is a valuable asset in the community and capable of being a leader
• Parent leadership at every level—from homework to decision-making—is essential to the success and sustainability of any school reform
• Parents—regardless of race, culture, language, income, or immigration status, etc.—must have power, access, and leadership tools to be partners in their children’s education and school reform.

Action

PLAN believes the solution to persistent educational inequities rests in parents leading a movement for school reform on a systemic level. This means grassroots parents, whose students are most affected by our failed education system, working together to push for policy changes that hold schools accountable for providing a quality education to every student, as well as respecting and valuing every child and every family.

• Leadership Development: Parents have opportunities to lead at every level of PLAN: as grassroots members, as representatives on PLAN’s regional Leadership Council, and on the Board of Directors. Parents participate in policy discussions, grassroots advocacy, decision-making, and long-range planning in the organization.
• Parent Organizing Campaigns: PLAN parents lead and participate in campaigns to promote educational equity and parent voice at the district and statewide level. In this time of devastating budget cuts, our current focus is on increasing parent participation in setting budget priorities at the district level. In addition, PLAN is a member of the coordinating committee of the statewide Campaign for Quality Education.
• Political Education: Using popular education strategies, PLAN educates parents about their rights within the educational system; the role of race, privilege, and power in public education; root causes of educational inequities; and strategies for social change.
• Training: PLAN has developed two parent leadership curriculum guides and annually trains more than 350 parents and staff in grassroots leadership, organizing, facilitation, and more. Each year through the year-long PLAN to LEAD Training of Trainers (TOT) program, PLAN trains parent-staff teams from up to 10 Bay Area organizations and schools to use the PLAN to LEAD curriculum as an organizing tool. Parents Ready for School provides parents of young children and parents new to the school system with fundamental knowledge and skills to navigate the school system and advocate for their children’s success.