For MASSPTA

Click here for FORUM NOTES by Mary Ann Hardenbergh, Monthly Forum Facilitator

Edited by Marilyn Segal

May 1, 2008

1.       House Budget-Chapter 70 is safe-there is slight increase in the foundation amount, a special ed circuit breaker and some more $$ for extended day-more details later

2.       Closing tax loopholes- looked like a clear victory against unfair corporate tax practices but a last minute amendment by Rep. Dan Bosley caused it to end almost revenue neutral  (the increase in the cigarette tax, however would result in about $100 million in new revenue). Now on to the Senate.

3.       Joe Rappa is gone and EQA is winding up its work on completed school district reviews. There will be a proposal for a new accountability entity- possibly in DOE.

4.       Readiness Project- leadership meeting on May 2 ^nd- still talking release of 3-5 bold new recommendations by end of May- beginning of June. MCAS probably will not be among them.

5.       Teen Empowerment- Rally May 21 ^st at the State House.

6.       State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE)- there will be new members and obviously be changes in staffing at DOE.  Marilyn reported that the House passed an amendment for a charter school study- new Commissioner beginning to meet with BESE members.

From Representative Frank Smizik, Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture Committee

Please find below a Fact Sheet relative to the Safer Alternatives legislation.  The legislation was filed by Chairman Kaufman and Senator Tolman, reported favorably from the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture Committee, and since engrossed in the Senate.  The bill is currently in House Ways & Means.  We have received a number of inquiries and wish to provide this document in order to better acquaint the members of the House with the particulars of this legislation.

Safer Alternatives Fact Sheet

This digest is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Division of Child, Adolescent and Family Health U93MC0021

There are more definitions for "parent" than letters in the alphabet. They are allies, bottle-washers, chauffeurs -- you get the idea. When it comes to the letter "L" parents are loving, laughable (especially to adolescents), and often, lines of credit (especially for teens). Parents are also lookouts for their children's best interests. When parents speak out on behalf of their own child, the changes they request often help improve programs and services for all children. Riding the wave of a successful parent/professional partnership, or occasionally getting caught in the undertow of a failed one, may be the incentive to continue to work to change and improve services and systems. When parents take on this role, they are LEADERS!

Parent leadership roles are many and varied and include:

Participating on advisory & hiring committees

Reviewing grants

Helping schools & community programs develop policies

Being part of quality improvement efforts at pediatric practices and hospitals

Gone are the days when professionals invited parents to a meeting because it was the "nice thing to do," and involvement began and ended with filling out a consumer satisfaction survey. Nowadays, organizations seek out parents to request their input and help with the development of assessment tools. Additionally, many federally funded programs, like state Title V Block Grants, are required to document parent participation in program and planning activities.