Tonight’s Presidential Debate: Parent Trigger?

Will Republican candidate Mitt Romney press President Obama to publicly support “Parent Trigger” during tonight’s presidential debate?

That’s the central thought behind a powerful Wall Street Journal editorial which suggests it’s time for the “education reform” President to use the power of the presidential bully pulpit to promote and highlight the effectiveness of “Parent Trigger” laws.

Reality trumps Hollywood

As the movie “Won’t Back Down” went into its nationwide release last week, parents with kids at Desert Trails Elementary School in Adelanto, Calif. were hard at work selecting a charter school operator to transform their chronically failing school. This momentum follows their court victory in late July when a Superior Court judge upheld the right of the parents to use the “Parent Trigger” law to bring desperately needed educational change for their children.

A Parent’s Perspective

Jose Morales, a father of two children from Adelanto, Calif. had an Opinion Editorial published in yesterday's Sunday edition of the (Los Angeles) Daily News. You can read here why he supported the Parent Trigger petition for Desert Trails Elementary -- and how it's starting to turn a failing situation around:

Michigan's 'Parent Trigger' legislation has right goal, but important flaws (Detroit Free Press)

Since the passage of the "Parent Trigger" law in California in 2010, lawmakers across the country have begun to look closely at similar legislation for their own states. Michigan is one of those states, and recently the Michigan Senate passed SB620. This bill is now before the House Education Committee.

Those of us who conceived Parent Trigger three years ago, and have been working on its implementation in California and across the country since, applaud those legislators in Lansing who are joining parents in creating better schools for their kids.

Art Imitates Life on School Reform (Roll Call)

A new movie in theatres called "Won't Back Down" starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis as a mom and teacher who unite to take over their children’s failing school, has some teachers union leaders up in arms.

“Won’t Back Down” and Parent Trigger

Today’s national release of the movie “Won’t Back Down” is generating significant interest about “Parent Trigger” laws and how parents at underperforming schools can use them to transform their schools through community organizing.

Take a few moments to read some of the recent media coverage around Parent Trigger: what it means and how it can be implemented while also correcting misconceptions.

The Parent, the Teacher and the Congressman

Doreen Diaz, lead parent coordinator for the Desert Trails Parent Union had a national audience this past Sunday when she appeared as a guest on the NBC ‘Education Nation” panel discussing parents and teachers.

Sitting alongside her were Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers – and fierce opponent of Parent Trigger laws and parent empowerment efforts -- and Congressman George Miller (D-Calif.), a strong proponent of Parent Trigger organizing.

Fox & Friends

Executive Director Ben Austin was a guest this morning on “Fox & Friends” talking about parent empowerment, Parent Trigger and the release, later this week, of the movie “Won’t Back Down.”

You can see his interview here.

Bloomberg BusinessWeek is out this week with a major story on Parent Revolution

Bloomberg Business Week is out this week with a major story on Parent Revolution, Parent Trigger and the parent organizing efforts at Desert Trails. Link here to read the entire story. For those wanting to understand Parent Revolution and our work, it’s a must-read story.

No More Waiting for Miracles

Test scores are down, once again, at Desert Trails Elementary.

The top three district administrators have abandoned ship within the last few months.

The district is borrowing against its reserves just to pay its bills.

School board members have openly defied a court order and may face jail time or other court punishment, with one board member literally daring the court to haul him off the jail, saying “If I’m found in contempt of court, I brought my own handcuffs, take me away. I don’t care anymore.”

This is a district – and a school – in meltdown.

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