 Bay Area Parents Win Commitments from Legislative Panel at March 1st PLAN Parent Action Forum!
Over 60 Bay Area parents gathered March 1 to speak out to legislators on priority issues of concern to children and families. The priorities were based on a survey of 250 parents gathered by PLAN’s regional Leadership Council between January and February of 2008. The survey asked parents to rank top priorities for child care, economic and social justice, education equity, and parent representation. The results were compiled into a Regional Platform for Social Justice for Families.
Download the Platform in English • español • Chinese
Parents spent the morning preparing testimony to a panel representing four Bay Area legislators, including Assemblymember Swanson (Oakland) and staff from the offices of Senator Perata (East Bay), Assemblymember Hancock (East Bay) and Assemblymember Mullin (South SF). Parents asked the panel for the following commitments:
- Stop the $4.8 billion cut from public schools-oppose the suspension of Prop. 98.
- Oppose the Governor’s proposed $200 million cut in child development programs
- Oppose the Governor’s plan to cut thousands of families off welfare through ‘Full Family Sanctions
- Create and publicize a statewide protocol which will ensure the safety of children separated from their parents/caregivers during an immigration raid
- Hold school districts accountable to their responsibility to provide opportunities for full participation to parents with limited English proficiency
- Support parents’ efforts at the district level to enforce Title I policies requiring 1% of all Title I funds be spent on activities to promote parental engagement
In addition, parents requested follow-up meetings between the elected officials and parent delegations to discuss these concerns and proposed solutions in greater detail.
Assemblymember Swanson committed to nearly all of the demands outright, and agreed to support parent efforts to win greater accountability from schools and school districts for providing parents with translated materials and translation services, as well as ensuring that 1% of Title I funds were being spent on parental involvement activities. Assemblymember Swanson also specifically committed to writing a letter to school/district officials in support of parents’ efforts at the district level. We plan to follow up with his office regarding developing a protocol to protect children in the event of an immigration raid.
The rest of the panel agreed to oppose the cuts to schools and the suspension of Prop. 98, although they stopped short of committing members to specifics on the other demands. The panel also committed to providing whatever assistance necessary and support to parents, especially in the area of parent representation.
PLAN’s Leadership Council will be planning follow-up actions, including a call-in day, in-district legislative visits, letter-writing, and more to hold the legislators accountable to their commitments. If you’d like to get involved, please contact Michelle at 510-444-7526 ext. 304. |
