Version User Scope of changes
Oct 17 2009, 12:02 PM EDT (current) stevenbell 5 words deleted
Apr 25 2009, 1:15 AM EDT stevenbell 1 word deleted

Changes

Key:  Additions   Deletions
RECLAIM OUR SCHOOLS
REDESIGN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM
RESTORE DEMOCRACY

3Rs PLEDGE TO ACTION

We the endorsers of this PLEDGE

AFFIRM
that public education has the potential to be the cornerstone of true democracy;

RECOGNIZE
that the mayoral control “reform” -- like previous efforts to change the system’s governance without facing
its deep systemic problems – still leaves the city with schools that fail to meet the academic, social and emotional
needs of our students;

REGRET
 that mayoral control has failed to uphold fundamental principles of democracy, student-centered pedagogy, and
respect for diversity and our local communities;

CALL UPON THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE
to pass a bill to IMMEDIATELY ESTABLISH A FULLY-FUNDED COMMISSION.

1. THE COMMISSION’S TASK WILL BE TO:

ASSESS
the strengths and weaknesses of the current educational system;

CREATE
a strategic plan and develop a mission, goals and policies to redesign the system and its
governance structure to guarantee every child's human right to an education;

INCLUDE
the public in a democratic process to reach consensus about a redesigned education system
that the legislature enacts into law.

The undersigned want a system that will:

SERVE
be responsive to, and be informed by all of its students, particularly the neglected majority:
low-income and students of color, immigrants, and students with special needs;

END
the inequities in the current segregated and unequal system that favors those with race or class
privilege and distribute resources according to need and to those historically under-resourced by the
the impact of structural, racial and economic discrimination;

ENCOURAGE
curricula and pedagogies that promote creative and challenging opportunities to learn,
that emphasize problem solving and critical thinking, and that reflect and build upon the histories,
experiences, interests, languages, special needs, and capabilities of all our students;

CREATE
a system of assessment that de-emphasizes high stakes testing, requires multiple forms of accountability
including work sampling and performance-based assessment, enhances quality education, and is an
outgrowth of student-centered curriculum and instruction;

RECOGNIZE
parents and family as our children's first educators and public advocates, and establish
structures to insure parent, family and student participation in the education process and
in substantive decisions affecting public education and local schools;

VALUE
the role of educators (together with parents, students andcommunities) in improving our schools;

REALIZE
the importance of collaborating with educators who develop caring, trusting relationships with
their students and reflect and respect the communities that their students are from;

ENCOURAGE
schools to build interactive partnerships with community members and community-based
groups that support the overall well-being of students, their families, and the community.

 2. THE COMMISSION WILL BE SELECTED BY "EDUCATIONAL LEADERS *
and will be comprised of parents, students, teachers, school administrators, and community leaders
who reflect the racial, economic and linguistic demographics of New York City and its representative
communities who will be assisted by qualified independent researchers.**

3.THE COMMISSION WILL SUBMIT ITS COMPLETED WORK (DOCUMENT) TO THE LEGISLATURE
When approved by the Legislature this document will be a governing document for the New York City School System.

We, the undersigned, pledge to mobilize our communities
to support a redesigned public education system based on every child's human right to education,
a system that empowers parents, students, teachers, school administrators, and members of the community
as full partners in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of this redesigned system.
We also recognize
that the challenges we face in public education are inextricably connected to other critical
and ongoing struggles to end racial and economic inequality in our city.

* All organizations endorsing this Pledge, will present to the legislature a consensus list (developed in a public meeting)
of highly-qualified, distinguished educational leaders, reflecting the diversity of our communities, from which list the
Commission Selection Committee will be appointed.
The Commission Selection Committee will select 57 - 67 Commission members, by application, according to a specific
criteria and rubric, in open public meetings.

** The educational leaders selecting the Commission members will not include persons who may have conflicts of interest
due to an alliance or contract with the DOE, the Mayor, or the Chancellor.


Individuals and Organizations may endorse The 3Rs Pledge To Action

Click here: Pledge E-PETITION

Organizations and Individuals are working to fulfill The 3Rs Pledge
 If you have questions about The 3Rs Coalition, or
if you would to join our Working Group, please contact us.3Rs Information Line - 718-577-9289

3Rs Working Group Contacts
Black New Yorkers for Educational Excellence - 212 252 2997
Human Rights Project of the Urban Justice Center - 646 -602-5628
Independent Commission on Public Education - 718-499-2612
New York Coalition for Neighborhood School Control - jweusi@aol.com
People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, NY Region - 718 918-2716
(Additional Endorsing Organizations are Working Group Members)

See a complete list of Organizations Endorsing This Pledge

Follow Up On Your Pledge Endorsement:

1. Find two .pdf copies of The Pledge to Action attached at the bottom of this page for you to share.
Whichever one works best on your system, share it with all who may have interest.
Note: If you print on 14" paper the copy will be easier to read (print will be larger).

2. Contact your representatives in the State Assembly and Senate
about the Pledge and your interest in a Constituents' Commission to Reclaim our schools,
Redesign our school system, and Restore democracy to assure every child an excellent education.

 If your legislator has not met with a representative of the 3Rs . . .
suggest a meeting, obtain a meeting date, and contact us so that we can accompany you.

3. Share your endorsement with your social, civic and religious groups
Invite one of our Working Group members to join you in speaking to these groups.

Please sign The 3Rs Pledge e-petition.

Your support helps assure our success.
Find an attached pdf copies of The Pledge below, for you to copy and share.
Join our Working Group.

 Thank you!