I believe that the purpose of Standup! is to demand that our leaders no longer allow the schools that are neglected and not performing to continue that way. There are many different ways that schools and districts are doing that and I do not think that they are suggesting there is one way to make that work.

 

On the Standup! web site there are several links to coalitions and organizations that are making changes in schools. There is a list (The Coalition) of them that then link to individual web sites and you can look through those sites to see what different areas are trying to do (Bay Area Coalition for Equitable Schools is a good one to check out). Standup is highlighting these organizations as a way to show that it is being done in isolated situations but it needs to happen nationally. The web site is: www.standup.org/coalition.html 

 

This organization's purpose is to raise people's awareness that high schools are failing. It is asking that leaders make it a priority to change that situation. Many govenors have recently signed the National Govenors Association Compact on State High School Graduation Data which is aimed at reforming high schools. Standup is asking that individuals let their governor know that they expect him to make this compact reform a priority. They are asking that they accurately report graduation rates and set goals for graduation rates to improve.

 

Essentailly, it is up to parents, local school boards, district and school leaders to make the decisions on HOW it is to be done. Bush's No Child Left Behind has begun to address this issue but the focus is on elementary and middle school education and no one seems to be addressing high schools aggressively and successfully.

Judy
www.standup.org