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24 Hours to Pennsylvania and Back
Juanita Doyon, leader of the Parent Empowerment Network, Flew across the country to help Pennsylvania fight against a high school exit exam. In her own state she is raising money for a class action lawsuit against the state exit exam. Such suits are expensive, but if her organization wins, we all win. Please contribute.
by Juanita Doyon
On October 16th at 11:30 p.m., I boarded a plane for Harrisburg Pennsylvania where I had been invited by Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and Pennsylvania's Education Law Center to work with members of their organizations and representatives of NAACP, PTA, principals’, superintendents’, and school board associations, and other stakeholder groups. Subject of the day: the Pennsylvania governor’s push to implement high school exit exams.
The meeting began at 10:00 a.m. October 17th, hwith keynote speaker Monty Neill, Co-Executive Director of FairTest. I worked with Dr. Neill to answer questions during the question/answer session that followed his talk and was part of a panel of national activists and a breakout group on networking in the afternoon. Our experience in Washington leading up to the 2008 WASL requirement has provided me vital information and insight that I was able to share with the Pennsylvania organizers. It was encouraging to see the many organizations working together to stop the flawed and harmful idea of exit exams before they start for Pennsylvania students.
Pennsylvania activists against high-stakes testing understand that the legal action we are bringing in Washington is important to students in their state and across the nation. The $350 stipend that the Education Law Center has so generously sent will be deposited into the PEN (Parent Empowerment Network) legal fund as sponsorship for 17 seniors. PSEA is reimbursing all of my expenses for the whirlwind trip as well.
As I shared a taxi back to the airport with Dr. Neill, we discussed Washington's situation, and I asked him how many Washington seniors Fairtest would like to sponsor. The answer to that question is in the announcement here made today on the FairTest listserv.
As October draws to an end, we draw ever closer to graduation day 2008. Please save me from the sad sight of an empty PEN mailbox. Please help make sure that NOT ONE SENIOR is denied a diploma based on WASL failure. The class of 2008 can’t wait!
Several families have agreed to be plaintiffs for our case. Your help, and the help of all of your friends, neighbors, coworkers, and relatives, is needed today! The Sponsor a Senior flyer is now posted at Mothers Against WASL. A Word format can be accessed by clicking “Printable Sponsor a Senior information to share” on the opening page of the website. If you would like to help by handing out envelopes to friends, please let me know and I will mail stickers or preprinted, self-addressed envelopes.
11,012 members of the Class of 2008 thank you!!!
Questions? Contact Juanita Jedoyon@aol.com 253-973-1593
— Juanita Doyon
Parent Empowerment Network
2007-10-30
INDEX OF OUTRAGES
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