Get Involved In Your Local Public School

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spk_0 Welcome back to the Parents Rights and Education Podcast. We are a

spk_0 grassroots movement of millions of parents and allies standing together,

spk_0 speaking as one to protect children and ensure parents crucial role in their

spk_0 child's education is protected. We come alongside millions of parents and

spk_0 allies and equip them to stand up for their rights by free trainings, membership,

spk_0 and community support. You can join this movement for free by visiting parentsrightsandeducation.com.

spk_0 And hey, if you love the work that we're doing, please leave us a five star review.

spk_0 Your review helps us get out our message and allows us to keep advocating for

spk_0 parents rights. Thanks so much for being here. Let's get into today's topic. Hey

spk_0 guys, today's topic, get involved in your local schools. So simple, not all that

spk_0 easy though, is it? As you know, our mission is to take back local control of

spk_0 our public school system so that we can be a part of the process in directing

spk_0 the education of our children. It's that simple. And today we're going to explore

spk_0 some of the ways to do that. Numerous options for citizen involvement in the

spk_0 local public schools. Here they are. First, we have to be informed. Most individual

spk_0 schools and districts make a significant effort to communicate. Read their web pages,

spk_0 or pick up a newspaper, and look at the education and local news sections to see what's going

spk_0 on. You can read the school board agendas and minutes to find out what the current

spk_0 issues are and decisions that will be made. Districts are required to make these agendas

spk_0 available to the public, at least a week before the school board meeting. Hosting on the

spk_0 district website is one way they can get information out. Request updates. Now this might

spk_0 be via email or through an app like Remind 101, which is what many districts use. Often

spk_0 this listserv or app information is readily available on the district web page or call

spk_0 the school and request the information and then sign up or download the app and read

spk_0 the updates as they're sent to you. Learn the basic process and procedures for policy development

spk_0 and approval, budget analysis, curriculum approval. District policies should be readily accessible

spk_0 via the district web page or just a phone call. Public schools are required to request input

spk_0 from you. The public, you may not have known that, but it's actually in their policies.

spk_0 However, surprisingly, few public citizens choose to regularly participate in the process.

spk_0 School districts also send out surveys to request information from the community about

spk_0 certain issues. And they do that multiple times throughout the years in remarkable how

spk_0 few responses are received. As a local citizen and taxpayer, you have the right to weigh in

spk_0 and even though you may not have children attending, networking is key to community activism.

spk_0 Don't be the individual who always gripes and doesn't contribute. Nobody cares how much

spk_0 you know. Really, they don't until they know how much you care. Atend and volunteer at

spk_0 local school events, they are a great way to connect with other parents and citizens.

spk_0 And there are so many to choose from on a school campus, ranging from the arts, like band,

spk_0 orchestra choir, etc. to selling tickets to working concessions. You know, your school

spk_0 is always looking for volunteers at events, all the office at your neighborhood school and

spk_0 find out where you can help this year. Another great way to connect, especially for those

spk_0 whose kids have graduated, is to volunteer for career day. It provides students an opportunity

spk_0 to explore career options available in their community. Share your passion and life work

spk_0 with the students. We all have skills to share. What else can you do? Attend school board

spk_0 minis. Not just the ones where they're talking about stuff that you, you know, have a beef

spk_0 with, but just be there. Sit there. Look at them. Show them you're interested. Okay. You're

spk_0 in the room. Attendance at school board meetings is the best way to influence your school

spk_0 district. You will witness firsthand whether or not your officials are acting on your

spk_0 behalf. Attend a few meetings to get comfortable with the process. Check out the board calendar

spk_0 and agendas on the board webpage. The day-to-day management of a school district is an indirect

spk_0 responsibility of a school board as they hire and can fire the superintendent. As an

spk_0 employee of the board, the superintendent is in charge of operations and the board should

spk_0 exercise oversight consistent with the community. That's you guys. Now today we are seeing

spk_0 focus on academics is replaced with advocacy by individual school board members for ideological,

spk_0 political and culture war causes having nothing to do with academic excellence or preparing

spk_0 students for success. School boards not only have the authority, they have the responsibility

spk_0 to direct the superintendent to provide detailed reports on the academic performance of students

spk_0 in the district. Accountability should be demanded by parents and taxpayers by testifying

spk_0 school board meetings, submitting written questions or requests for an open town hall to a school

spk_0 board member or filing a freedom of information act request. That's called FOIA. All textbooks

spk_0 and curriculums under consideration by the board should be made available to the public

spk_0 before approval. Generally it takes about a year to complete this process, sign up to

spk_0 serve on the curriculum committee and get involved if you are concerned about content, voice

spk_0 your concern and a school school board meeting. Tell them, I'm not saying what I like here.

spk_0 This is not good from our kid. Pre has an excellent training on demand for free on our website

spk_0 and it explains everything that you need to know about testifying at your school board.

spk_0 And last but certainly not least, consider running for the school board. Unfortunately today's

spk_0 school and the boards that govern them often operate at odds with the values and priorities

spk_0 of the community. They're not representing us and you have the opportunity and responsibility

spk_0 to change who holds these important positions. The ultimate form of accountability is nominating

spk_0 and electing school board members who reflect the will of the community or recalling those

spk_0 board members who choose to defy the wishes and interests of the people. Holding a school

spk_0 board position is the best strategy to impact policies and represent your community at the school

spk_0 district level and boards have final approval on courses, textbooks and policies and procedures.

spk_0 The board works very closely with the top level district management regarding the budget, vision,

spk_0 mission and values that will guide their decisions. These local boards hold primary decision making

spk_0 power on virtually all aspects of education in their jurisdiction. State boards of education

spk_0 may set as a framework of required standards, often regarding testing and assessment. However,

spk_0 local school boards do not report to the state board of education as their sole accountability

spk_0 is to the voters. There are more than, okay, I want you to listen to this. This is great

spk_0 stuff. There are more than 90,000 school board members serving in America's 51.5 million

spk_0 K through 12 students and their families in over 17,000 regular and charter school districts

spk_0 across this country. And together, school board members comprise the nation's largest body of

spk_0 elected officials. Wow, our sole mission here at Parents Rights and Education is to take back schools

spk_0 one by one by winning school board seats all across the country. Will you help us join others in the

spk_0 most important election strategies of our time? Run for school board. Take the free training

spk_0 courses on our website. Take the pre score quiz on the pre website and indicate you are a candidate for school board.

spk_0 We will help you run this Friday. I have a Texas leader, Missy Kara, back to give us an update. Oh, this gal is a real fighter.

spk_0 She knows her stuff. She has a four worst school board success story pertaining to bad curriculum. And there's more.

spk_0 Missy successfully stopped controversial state school choice legislation. Now you do not want to miss this one. I know it.

spk_0 Hey, Parents, do you want to testify at your school board, but aren't sure where to begin? Or do you want to run for your school board and need tips for how to win?

spk_0 We created a free training center for you. Learn how to effectively testify at your school board and how to win your school board election through our free courses available for you.

spk_0 In our courses, we provide step by step video instructions along with the quiz to make sure you really grasp the information.

spk_0 Some of the video instructions include how to testify at your school board in person and virtually, how to prepare your testimony and tips for recording your testimony and sharing it and more.

spk_0 In our course, that teaches you how to win your school board election. We have video instructions for things like creating your campaign plan, managing a team, budgeting, how to debate effectively and more.

spk_0 You are making an impact on your child's education and we are here to support you. Join for free today by visiting parentsridesandeducation.com slash login.

spk_0 That's parentsridesandeducation.com slash login. Thank you so much for listening to today's episode.

spk_0 Keep up with everything we're doing. Check out our website parentsridesandeducation.com and sign up for our newsletter.

spk_0 You can also join our movement for free by visiting our website parentsridesandeducation.com.

spk_0 To do your part in protecting parents rights, you can become a club 12 by 12 member by donating $12 a month.

spk_0 It takes all of us to make the change that we want to see. Thanks so much for listening. Talk soon.

Get Involved In Your Local Public School

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