AFT President Weingarten on National Day of Action to Reclaim the Promise of Public Education

WASHINGTON—Statement by American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten on the National Day of Action to Reclaim the Promise of Public Education: Our Schools, Our Solutions:　

"Today's National Day of Action is the largest coordinated action to reclaim the promise of public education in recent memory. Parents, teachers, students and community members are taking part in the Day of Action because they know that the market-based ideologies of privatization, austerity, division and competition are failing our children. They want to reclaim our schools and improve public education for all.

"This Day of Action is truly nationwide. Thousands are participating in the 90 events across the country, and tens of thousands more are showing their support online.

"Communities from coast to coast are experiencing injustices in public education that have become all too common—scarce funding and resources, deep-rooted inequities, hyper-testing, school closings and lack of local control. But while ALEC (the American Legislative Exchange Council) and others are trying to diminish public education, parents, teachers, students and community groups are taking their schools back.

"On this Day of Action, we call upon our leaders to listen to those closest to the classroom about what's best for our children. While we agree on the overall goal to prepare students for life, career and college, we also must be clear that the market-based approach has failed. We need a new path paved with early childhood education, project-based learning, wraparound services, teacher autonomy, professional development, parent and student voices, fair funding formulas and more. We must reclaim the promise of public education."　

Click here for a list of events.

National Sponsors

Alliance for Educational Justice | Jonathan Stith

American Federation of Teachers | Eric Zachary

Annenberg Institute for School Reform | Leigh Dingerson

Dignity in Schools Coalition | Liz Sullivan-Yuknis

Gamaliel Network | Laura Barrett

Journey for Justice Alliance | Jitu Brown

Leadership Center for the Common Good | Kyle Serrette

League of United Latin American Citizens | Luis Torres

National Education Association | Brian Dunn

National Opportunity to Learn Campaign | Cassie Schwerner

Service Employees International Union | Bill Ragen