UNOFFICIAL END OF SUMMER BEGINS:

But it’s never too late to enjoy a bag of books, carefully curated by your friends at CER, including Jeanne Allen’s latest, An Unfinished Journey! For a donation of $100 (or much more if you choose), you’ll get vintage ed reform books from our library plus An Unfinished Journey. Sign up today before you head to your next destination!

PAUL VALLAS ON REALITY CHECK:

“The Stakes are Too High.” A look at Chicago, unions, kids and the future of schools post Covid. A well-known former Superintendent of major city school systems, the wonderfully outspoken Paul Vallas (@Paulvallas) joins Reality Check to discuss what to do in today’s unprecedented education environment — including where and whether parents should have a say, what the unions are doing and how he thinks other districts' educators behave. Not an episode to miss!

THIS WEEK:

#FundEveryKid CER joined over 60 organizations (and growing!) in pledging to fight to fund families and students, not institutions. As the letter says, “At a time when tens of millions of students face nearly 6 months without consistent schooling, priorities should focus on the needs of families over institutions.” Thanks to the newest kids on the block in the education opportunity world, Yes.Every.Kid for organizing this collective powerhouse of Advocates. Join us!

NEXT WEEK:

Parents and those who want to help parents succeed will want to tune into to the next edition of CER’s Back to School ACTION SERIES, with Erica Komisar, psychoanalyst, parent coach and author, who will address parent questions and suggest strategies on how to create a healthy learning environment for our kids in the time of Covid 19. REGISTER NOW

LATER THIS MONTH:

The U.S.-Italia ED Innovation Festival will be coming live from Italy, to virtual points throughout the Globe. “JOIN” us on ground (if you’re permitted) or better yet, virtually, to explore the wonders of science and culture throughout Italy through VR and AR, the intersection of school and work across our two countries, and the growing education technology and innovation companies that are solving our most pressing challenges left by Covid-19.

A NOTE ABOUT LABOR DAY:

You will hear it’s a celebration of unions, like the kind that are out and about today thwarting the efforts of school leaders, mayors and parents to educate their kids the way they best see fit. No, those are not the unions that Labor Day was created to celebrate. It was the workers who built our nation — like those in all of our families at CER. They built our bridges, our roads, the first skyscrapers, automobiles... It was dedicated to the social and economic achievement of those workers, who also by their labor were able to achieve their dreams. Let’s remind our families and children this Labor Day that it is those whose labor brings achievement, not mediocrity, who we celebrate this weekend.

Check out Jeanne’s 2011 oped for the Huffington Post on this very subject.

Founded in 1993, the Center for Education Reform aims to expand educational opportunities that lead to improved economic outcomes for all Americans — particularly our youth — ensuring that conditions are ripe for innovation, freedom and flexibility throughout U.S. education.