Dear parents, grandparents and education activists,

Happy spring! Please join us at our two upcoming workshops on March 29, April 7 and April 8.

• ENACT workshop on parenting skills
  This workshop will use theater games and role play to help you recognize your feelings while working through an issue and will teach you to use negotiation and compromise with your child. You'll also find out how to bring ENACT programs for social and emotional learning into your school or program.
  When: Tuesday, March 29 at 9 a.m.
  Where: UFT headquarters at 52 Broadway, 19th floor, room F
   
• Grant-writing workshop
  When: Thursday, April 7 at 9 a.m. OR Friday, April 8 at 6 p.m.
  Where: UFT headquarters at 52 Broadway, 10th floor

To RSVP, email me at fstreich@uft.org. For more details, see the flier »

Sign up for text messaging

I want to remind you to sign up for UFT text messaging by texting the word "parent" to the number 30644 and answering the questions that follow. We'll alert you about school cancellations due to weather, political campaigns and breaking news. And, once a critical mass of Manhattan parents sign up, we'll even send a text message that links to a copy of your newsletter you can easily read on your mobile phone.

Budget news

We are right in the thick of budget season. More than 200 parents joined UFT members in Albany to lobby for education funding on March 9. We need to keep putting pressure on our legislators to pay back the $2 billion that the state still owes to New York City public schools under the settlement of the 2006 Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit.

Sign the petition calling on Albany to fully fund city schools »

We also want more funding for community schools and enrollment equity between charter and public schools — that means we think charter schools should educate the same share of students with disabilities, English language learners and homeless students as public schools, and backfill when students leave. The state budget must be decided by April 1.

Look up your state Assembly member »

Look up your state senator »

The City Council will finalize our city budget by July 1, so it's not too early to start lobbying your Council member as well. Look up your City Council member »

Register to vote

Don't forget to get involved on a federal level, too. The presidential primary election in New York City will be on April 19. Tomorrow, March 25, is the last day you can register to vote if you want to vote in the primary. This November's election is key for public education and public-sector unions. We won't let the leading Republican candidates privatize our schools and attack organized labor.

Register to vote online now »

Education news

We've gotten some good news for public school parents lately. The New York State Regents elected Betty Rosa as the new chancellor. Rosa, who has worked as a teacher and principal in New York City and a superintendent in the Bronx, is critical of high-stakes testing and supports equitable funding between school districts. Read more about Betty Rosa in a Chalkbeat article »

We also learned from an Independent Budget Office report released last week that New York City schools outperformed the rest of the state in academic growth. In spite of ads that Families for Excellent Schools continues to run bashing our public schools, this new research shows that our city's public schools are making great progress. Read an op-ed from Chancellor Fariña »

Many of you received a flier this week from the Department of Education about testing the water in our schools for lead and other toxins. The UFT worked with the DOE in 2002 to put protocols in place to test our schools' water regularly, so this is not something to worry about. Read the letter from the DOE about water testing »

Save the date: Wednesday, May 4

There will be an Alliance to Reclaim our Schools national day of action on Wednesday, May 4. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments and promise of our public schools. Last year, this day of action was a huge success, with more than 40,000 demonstrators at more than 800 schools in 30 cities participating. Meet with your parent-teacher association and talk to your school's chapter leader to discuss how your school community will show its support this year. For ideas and resources, visit the Alliance to Reclaim our Schools website »

Enjoy more events, resources and news below.

Sincerely,

Francine Streich
UFT Parent-Community Liaison

Upcoming events

• Monday, March 28: If you have trouble paying for groceries, come to a screening and recertification clinic for SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps. This clinic is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Monday at 431 W. 125 St. Bring an I.D., Social Security card, and proof of address, rent, utilities and income. You can walk in or call 212-531-1609 to make an appointment.

• Monday, March 28: Presidents' council members are invited to a training about supporting parent-teacher associations through elections from 6 to 8 p.m. at Tweed Courthouse, 52 Chambers St. in Manhattan. If you are a presidents' council member, RSVP online now »

• Monday, March 28 and Thursday, March 31: If you need health insurance, get free help enrolling in a health care plan with low- or no-cost coverage on Monday, March 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or Thursday, March 31 from 3 to 5 p.m. at 431 W. 125 St. There will be staff who speak English, Spanish and French available to assist you.

• Wednesday, March 30: If you live between 34 St. and 100 St. west of 5th Ave. OR live in Manhattan, have an existing Housing Court case, have a child under the age of 18 and receive some form of public assistance, you are eligible for free legal assistance at a Manhattan tenant clinic from 3 to 5 p.m. at 431 W. 125th St.

• Thursday, March 31: There will be free breast cancer screenings at a mobile clinic at 250 Kingston Ave. in Brooklyn from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Women over the age of 40 who are New York City residents and haven't had a mammogram in the past year are welcome to make an appointment for a mammogram or clinical breast exam at no cost. To make an appointment, call 718-619-4248. For more details, see the event listing »

• Thursday, March 31: The UFT Manhattan borough political team invites you to a panel discussion about politics, education, community and the labor movement at 4:30 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway. City Councilmembers Daniel Dromm, Mark Treyger, Antonio Reynoso and Ben Kallos will be in attendance, along with other legislators. For more details, see the flier »

• Thursday, March 31: The New York City Council will hold its third annual Women's HerStory Month celebration at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. This year's event will honor women in uniform. To RSVP, email councilevent@council.nyc.gov. Directions »

• Friday, April 1: Next Friday is the deadline to register with First Book for a book giveaway in East Harlem on May 14 organized by the UFT and First Book. I will send more details about the May event as they become available. To register, print and fill out the First Book registration form, then fax it to me at 212-510-6424 or give it to the UFT chapter leader at your child's school. Download the First Book registration form »

• Tuesday, April 5: The Citywide Council on English Language Learners invites you to a presentation on the role of language access coordinators at 6 p.m. at Tweed Courthouse, 52 Chamber St. Interpretation services will be available, and the building is wheelchair accessible. To request interpretation, email ccell@schools.nyc.gov or call 718-752-7394. See the flier »

• Wednesday, April 13: As part of National Minority Cancer Awareness Week, there will be a presentation about cancer prevention and screening from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building, 163 W. 125 St. in the second floor art gallery. Hear from experts about how to protect your health and your family's health. Spanish interpretation will be available. See the flier in English and Spanish »

• Thursday, April 14: There will be a National Minority Cancer Awareness Week presentation about breast and ovarian cancers in African-American and Latina communities from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 417 E. 68 St., in the Zuckerman Research Center Auditorium. Come hear from experts about the latest breast and ovarian cancer treatments and how these diseases affect African-American and Latina communities. Spanish interpretation will be available. See the flier in English and Spanish »

Political Action

• Success Academy memo warns staff not to talk to press: In a memo circulated to Success Academy Charter School staff and obtained by Politico this month, the charter chain's legal team warns staffers not to talk to journalists or politicians, argue with parents over text message or make any of 20 "mistakes" that could reflect badly on the school. Read the article from Capital New York »

• Close a tax loophole for hedge-fund managers: A federal tax loophole called carried interest reduces taxes for millionaire hedge fund managers. New York activists are seeking to address this inequity by taxing them the same amount on the state level and using the revenue for public schools and other public services. Sign the petition telling the State Legislature to make Wall Street billionaires pay their fair share »

• Charter schools suspend black students and students with disabilities more: An analysis of national data from the federal Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights found that charter schools suspend black students and students with disabilities at higher rates than public schools. Read the article from The New York Times »

• Sign the petition to lower class size in NYC: Class Size Matters is urging the mayor to create a commission to address overcrowding in NYC schools. Sign the petition »

Opportunities and Resources

• You can see your children's standardized tests: The DOE has a request form that allows parents to see a copy of his or her child's standardized test and answer sheet. To get a copy of your child's test, fill out the request form and return it to your child's principal. Download the request form »

• Computer resource centers provide free digital literacy classes and more: There are 32 computer resource centers at NYC parks and recreation centers throughout the city. Computer resource centers offer digital learning opportunities and internet access to New Yorkers of all ages. For more information and to find a center near you, visit the website »

• Apply for a grant from the Build a Better School Contest: The Municipal Credit Union, the UFT and other partners are accepting video entries for our third annual Build a Better School Contest. Public school students are invited to submit a three-minute video that explains why their school is in need and what project they would undertake to make it better. The winning school will receive a $10,000 grant and other prizes. For more details, see the flier »

• Free financial counseling near you: The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs invites you to visit one of seven Financial Empowerment Centers in Manhattan to get help with handling debt collectors, improving your credit, creating a budget, opening a bank account and more. Counseling is free, confidential and available in multiple languages. To make an appointment, call 311. Visit the website »

• Free e-books for low-income children: Adults working in libraries, schools, preschools, community after-school programs and other programs that serve low-income children can register children for the Open eBooks app, which offers thousands of best-selling books to low-income children to read for free. Find out more »

• Volunteer to help the homeless: The NYC Department of Homeless Services is looking for volunteers for its homeless shelter library program and annual street survey. If you're interested in lending a hand, see a flier for more details »

• Summer employment for New Yorkers between 14 and 24 years old: The New York City Department of Youth and Community Development is accepting applications for its summer youth employment program. Anyone between the ages of 14 and 24 who is a New York resident is eligible to apply for a paid summer job, plus workshops about career awareness, money management and more. Applications will be accepted until April 15. Apply online now »