LOBBY DAY WAS WONDERFUL!
Hundreds of students from Boston, Somerville and other urban communities came to the State House today. Parents and other education activists also spilled out of the hearing room which was not large enough to hold the crowd.
The attendees surprised the Governor's office when they came en masse to deliver post cards with our message:
"State standardized tests should not be a barrier to graduation for students who can demonstrate they have met the state standards in other ways. Students are suffering from the unintended consequences of MCAS. We must reduce the weight of MCAS and use a range of evidence to determine graduation, as has been done successfully in other states."
"Lobbyists" then fanned out and met with legislators.
Teen Empowerment held a news conference and distributed their publication Voices of Children Left Behind in Massachusetts Public Schools.
If you were unable to attend this event you can still participate in our Virtual Lobby day. Telephone and email scripts are on the MTA website.
We are asking our legislators and Governor Patrick to ensure high quality education by reforming MCAS now. Our message to the Governor and to Legislators:
Virtual lobbying: Call and Email the Governor, your Representative and your Senator on February 13, or the week of February 11-18 and ask for their support of MCAS Reform.
Governor's Phone #: 617-725-4005
State House Phone #: 617-722-2000.
Governor's email: Go to www.mass.gov. Click on "contact the Governor' office" and you will be directed to an email form. Legislators' email, go to: www.mass.gov/legis/ and click on House or Senate or go to www.Massteacher.org and click on MCAS Reform depends on you.
Sponsored by Citizens for Public Schools. For more information, contact Marilyn Segal at marilyn@citizensforpublicschools.org or 617-227-3000.
The attendees surprised the Governor's office when they came en masse to deliver post cards with our message:
"State standardized tests should not be a barrier to graduation for students who can demonstrate they have met the state standards in other ways. Students are suffering from the unintended consequences of MCAS. We must reduce the weight of MCAS and use a range of evidence to determine graduation, as has been done successfully in other states."
"Lobbyists" then fanned out and met with legislators.
Teen Empowerment held a news conference and distributed their publication Voices of Children Left Behind in Massachusetts Public Schools.
If you were unable to attend this event you can still participate in our Virtual Lobby day. Telephone and email scripts are on the MTA website.
We are asking our legislators and Governor Patrick to ensure high quality education by reforming MCAS now. Our message to the Governor and to Legislators:
Virtual lobbying: Call and Email the Governor, your Representative and your Senator on February 13, or the week of February 11-18 and ask for their support of MCAS Reform.
Governor's Phone #: 617-725-4005
State House Phone #: 617-722-2000.
Governor's email: Go to www.mass.gov. Click on "contact the Governor' office" and you will be directed to an email form. Legislators' email, go to: www.mass.gov/legis/ and click on House or Senate or go to www.Massteacher.org and click on MCAS Reform depends on you.
Sponsored by Citizens for Public Schools. For more information, contact Marilyn Segal at marilyn@citizensforpublicschools.org or 617-227-3000.
Added on February 13, 2008 by formasspta
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