Parent Revolution Statement on Assemblymember Brownley’s “Parent Trigger”
Below is our statement about the changes to the "parent trigger" provision released by Assemblymember Brownley this afternoon.
Los Angeles, CA. (December 10, 2009) The Parent Revolution – a campaign founded to empower parents to take back and transform their local schools – strongly opposes the watered down “parent trigger” crafted in in Sacramento backrooms without consultation from parents. After hearing from dozens of passionate parents and community leaders yesterday about the importance of finally giving parents real power to transform failing neighborhood schools, Assemblymember Brownley today released a “parent trigger” provision that is an insult to the parents of California.
Under this bill, if half the parents sign a petition at their failing school – rather than triggering a transformation as outlined in SB 1 – it triggers a meaningless and patronizing hearing. This provision serves the interests bureaucrats and special interests rather than parents and children. It defends the status quo at the expense of us all.
Assemblymember Brownley got it half right -- She wrote a provision that required parental involvement, but forgot the part where you actually give parents real power. Parents will not be fooled by patronizing measures and token gestures. We only get one chance to give our children the future they need and the education they deserve. We will not back down until every single parent in California has the power to take back and transform their failing neighborhood schools.
