Education Advocacy, Events, and Partners

Advocacy and Events

LULAC National to Support May 13, 2014 Education Rally at the Supreme Court

As a member of the Alliance to Reclaim Our Public Schools, LULAC National will join parents, students, educators and community members from across America at a rally at the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 to raise awareness about the need to continue the struggle for racial and educational justice.  The date will also commemorate the 60th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education.  LULAC’s advocacy in the Mendez v. Westminster case preceding Brown v. Board, makes LULAC National a unique partner in the continued fight for educational excellence.

Rally details:
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
12:30pm
United States Supreme Court
Washington, D.C.
For more information contact Luis Torres, Director of Policy and Legislation at latorres@lulac.org.

Note: LULAC National will meet at 12:30pm on Tuesday, May 13 in front of the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court, rallying with several high-profile speakers, followed by a march to the U.S. Department of Justice.

LULAC Florida Joins Action in Miami in Support of Education

In addition to LULAC National’s involvement at the Supreme Court rally, LULAC Florida has endorsed and will be participating in an information campaign and rally at Pepper Park in in Miami, Florida on Wednesday, May 14, 2014. 

Event details:
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
5:30pm
Pepper Park NW135th Street & NW12th Avenue
For more information contact Mari Corugedo at meaama@me.com.

To learn more about the Alliance to Reclaim Our Public Schools, visit: http://www.reclaimourschools.org/

Partners

Through strategic partnerships with various education-focused coalitions and advocacy experts across the country, LULAC works to broaden its impact and advance its mission, and priorities.

Hispanic Education Coalition (HEC)

The Hispanic Education Coalition (HEC) unites more than 20 organizations dedicated to improving educational opportunities and outcomes for the more than 54 million Latinos and Latinas living in the United States and Puerto Rico. LULAC currently serves as co-chair of the Hispanic Education Coalition.

Campaign for High School Equity (CHSE)

The Campaign for High School Equity is a diverse coalition of national organizations representing communities of color that believe high schools should have the capacity and motivation to prepare every student for graduation, college, work, and life. LULAC currently serves as a member of the coalition and has co-chaired committees in the past.

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT)

The American Federation of Teachers is a union of professionals that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for our students, their families and our communities. We are committed to advancing these principles through community engagement, organizing, collective bargaining and political activism, and especially through the work our members do.

Univision

For the last 50 years, Univision has been dedicated to the mission of informing, educating, and empowering Hispanic America.  Now more than ever, Univision delivers the content Hispanic America craves, from news to novelas, from sports to reality shows, across television, digital and mobile, Univision has partnered with LULAC to present programs that inform the community about education resources on a variety of subjects including Common Core State Standards, higher education, scholarships, tutoring, and more.

Past Events

ACTION ALERT: FIGHT THE BUDGET CUTS! 
Over the next few weeks, Congress will be voting on legislation that funds critical programs and services. September 30 is a key deadline as legislators seek to pass funding bills before the end of the fiscal cycle. This timeframe provides LULAC an opportunity to weigh-in with Members of Congress to urge them to repeal the ill-conceived automatic budget cuts known as the "sequestration process."

Email your Member of Congress and urge him/her to repeal the sequestration process now!

LULAC Joins AFT/NEA and others to Launch “National Day of Action to Reclaim the Promise of Public Education” – December 9, 2013
LULAC has joined a coalition along with organizations such as the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA) to launch the “National Day of Action to Reclaim the Promise of Public Education.”  This special day, to be observed on Monday, December 9th, is an opportunity for parents, teachers, students, and the community to come together and work towards fulfilling the promise of what public education should be - a pathway to opportunity and justice for all members of our society, regardless of background.

On December 9th, coalition partners across the country will affirm core principles/ideas like;  1) public schools are public institutions, 2) strong public schools create strong communities, and 3) quality teaching must be delivered by committed, respected and supported educators.

We encourage LULAC Councils to take part in the “National Day of Action to Reclaim the Promise of Public Education” in their communities in observance of this day.   If you or your LULAC council is interested in holding an event in your area, please contact Luis Torres.   We also encourage LULAC Councils to reach out to our partners at the American Federation of Teachers who are engaged in their region. In addition, please visit ReclaimPublicEdNow.org for the latest information.

Northeast (Bill Shiebler - bshieble@aft.org - 202-212-1597)
NYC
NYS
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Boston
Newark

Midwest (James Thindwa - thindwa@aft.org -  224-805-1745)
Chicago
Cleveland
Twin Cities
Detroit
Cincinnati
Toledo

South (Jasmine Harris -jharris@aft.org -                202-716-9867)
Washington
Brevard
Miami
New Orleans
JP
Birmingham

Southwest (Eleanor Chavez - echavez@aft.org - 505-400-1287)
Kansas City
Houston
Texas
New Mexico
  
West (Sharon Delugach - sdelugac@aft.org - 323-513-4588)
San Francisco
LA                        

LULAC Council in Florida to Host Education Forum on Common Core State Standards
This month, LULAC Council #7232 in Florida will be hosting an education forum on the topic of the Common Core State Standards. The event will be held on Tuesday, October 29, 2013, at the Casa Bacardi at ICCAS - University of Miami Campus (1531 Brescia Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida 33124). Forum starts at 6:30pm. To RSVP email edcouncil7232@gmail.com.
 

LULAC/NIEA/NM GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO HOST 2nd COMMON CORE TOWN HALL IN NEW MEXICO - MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013
LULAC and NIEA will be hosting NM Education Secretary Hanna Skandera at a second community town hall on the topic of Common Core State Standards.  The town hall will be held on Monday, December 16, 2013 from 5:30pm-7:00pm at West Mesa High School located at 6701 Fortuna Road, Albuquerque, NW.  To RSVP please contact John Moya at jmoya@lnesc.org.

ACTION ALERT: DENOUNCE ESEA WAIVERS, URGE CONGRESS TO ENACT REAL EDUCATION REFORM!
As part of the Campaign for High School Equity (CHSE), LULAC joined 9 other civil rights organizations in releasing a white paper that analyzed the Department of Education's Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Waiver system. The paper entitled, Maintaining a Focus on Subgroups in an Era of Elementary and Secondary Education Act Waivers, raises concerns regarding the lack of rigor in state accountability systems. The white paper found, among other things, that although state accountability systems vary widely, many states group the lowest-performing 25 or 30 percent of students into “super subgroups.” This method of grouping takes the focus off of the performance of individual groups of students, such as students of color. This method also allows the performance of low achieving students to no longer trigger interventions. Accordingly, the use of “super subgroups” could lead to fewer students of color receiving the supports and interventions they need. Read the white paper here.

Email your Member of Congress and urge him/her to urge the Department of Education to reform the ESEA waiver system now!

LULAC MEMBERS VISIT WITH CONGRESS FOR ACTOBER 2013
Over 100 LULAC members from across the country convened in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 3, 2013, as part of LULAC’s ACTober Fall Advocacy Days. LULAC advocates had appointments with close to 80 Congressional offices and discussed critical issues of importance to the Latino community, including the ESEA waivers. To view the various advocacy fact sheets distributed to Members of Congress and their staff visits the www.lulac.org/educationpolicy.

LULAC JOINS WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE THE TEACHING PROFESSION – NEW DOCUMENTARY “TEACH” TO AIR IN SEPTEMBER
TEACH airs on CBS, this Friday, September 6, at 8-10PM and on the new channel from Participant media, PIVOT, on September 14, at 8-10PM. The web site is at http://www.takepart.com/teach.

About TEACH:  Offering a glimpse inside four public school classrooms, Guggenheim invites the viewer to follow the struggles and triumphs of America’s education system through the eyes, minds and hearts of its most essential resource: the teachers. Intense and emotional, this year-in-the-life of four public school teachers illustrates how tenacity, innovation and a passion for inspiring others drives these educators as they navigate the ups and downs of the 2012/2013 school year. Viewers are taken into the classrooms of: Matt Johnson, a 4th grade teacher at McGlone Elementary, Denver, Colorado; Lindsay Chinn, a 9th grade Algebra teacher at MLK Early College, Denver, Colorado; Shelby Harris, 7th and 8th grade math teacher at Kuna Elementary, Kuna, Idaho; and Joel Laguna, a 10th grade AP World History teacher at Garfield High, Los Angeles, California.

As part of an 18 month social action campaign, Participant media aims to use the film and additional content to help elevate the profession of teaching, foster media and community attention, and encourage high-performing students to rethink teaching as a career they might seek.  Tune in!

LNESC Miami Plans College and Career Readiness Afterschool Session - October 30, 2013
In observance of National Action Day/"Acción por la Educación!", the Miami LULAC National Education Service Center (LNESC) will be hosting a college and career readiness after school information session on October 30, 2013 for its Upward Bound students.  This college readiness session will provide these students with an opportunity to learn more about the importance of taking rigorous and advanced courses in preparation for college.  Session leaders will also provide students with college and career readiness resources to help them plan for the future.  For more information about LNESC's programs and work, contact dvega@lnesc.org.

LULAC/NIEA/NM GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO HOST COMMON CORE TOWN HALLS IN NEW MEXICO - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2013
LULAC and NIEA will be hosting NM Education Secretary Hanna Skandera at the first of several community town halls scheduled to take in New Mexico to educate the community about the implementation of Common Core State Standards.  The first town hall will be held on Monday, September 16, 2013 from 5:30pm-7:00pm at Christine Duncan's Heritage Academy located at 1900 Atrisco Drive NW, Albuquerque, NW.  To RSVP please contact (505) 839-4971.  
Download town hall flier in English, click here.

Download town hall flier in Spanish, click here.

COMMON CORE WATCH PARTIES - SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2013 Univision and LULAC National announced their collaboration to help inform the community about the Common Core State Standards. Led by national Univision anchor, Teresa Rodriguez, Univision will air a one-hour segment on August 24th across its national network featuring teachers, parents, and community advocates discussing the topic of Common Core State Standards. LULAC Watch Parties are planned in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Miami, Florida.  For more information about the watch parties, click here. Download New Mexico Watch Party Flier English, click here. Download New Mexico Watch Party Flier Spanish, click here. Download Florida Watch Party Flier English, click here. Download Florida Watch Party Flier Spanish, click here.

LULAC CONVENES FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF MARCH ON WASHINGTON - SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2013 Saturday, August 24, 2013, LULAC is convening Latino advocates from across the DC-Metro area to participate in the 50th anniversary of the March in Washington.  LULAC members will stand together with other civil-rights organizations to express opposition against the recent attack on voter rights and continue to raise awareness on critical issues impacting our country including education, immigration, civil rights, unemployment, health, and LGBT rights. Location: Rally at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C. LULAC Staging Location: North Side Lawn, Corner of 15th Street and Constitution beginning at 7:00 a.m. (signs and other materials will be provided; first come, first serve basis).  Closest metro stop to staging location: Smithsonian Station (blue/orange). Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. *Please note that National LULAC President Margaret Moran will be speaking between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Contact:For more information contact Luis Torres at latorres@lulac.org or 202.833.6130.

FLORIDA: LULAC Florida Education Expert, Mari Corugedo, Serves as Guest on Univision's Dra. Isabel Radio Show and Speaks on Common Core State Standards
On, August 20th, 2013, Mari Corugedo, President of the Hispanic Educators LULAC Council in Miami, Florida, served as an education expert on Univision's Dra. Isabel show on WQBA/Univision Radio, 1140AM.  Mari Corugedo informed parents and the community about the Common Core State Standards.  To hear a podcast of LULAC/Univision's CCSS radio segment, click here.  (Mari Corugedo's segment begins at the 39:55 mark)

FLORIDA: LULAC Florida Education Commission Chair, Dr. Rosa Castro Feinberg, Serves as Guest on Ricardo Brown's 1020AM Show, Radio Actualidad
On, August 20th, 2013, Dr. Rosa Castro Feinberg, LULAC Florida Education Commission Chair, served as a featured guest onRicardo Brown's 1020AM show, Radio Actualidad which covered various topics including, public libraries.  To hear audio of the segment, click here.  (Search through the audio archives for 08/20/2013)

NEW MEXICO: “Communications Education Leader Cadre” In conjunction with the NM Public Education Department, and the NIEA, LULAC co-hosted a meeting of the NM "Education Leaders Cadre"  on August 12, 2013 at the American Indian Graduate Center in Albuquerque, NM.  The meeting convened education stakeholders interested in working on CCSS issues, like LULAC, the NIEA, and others in New Mexico, and to coordinate CCSS communication efforts in that state.  This was also the first town-hall planning meeting.

NEW MEXICO: "Materials Review Day" In conjunction with the NM Public Education Department, NIEA, and the PTA, LULAC held a “Materials Review Day” on August 9, 2013 at the Office of African American Affairs in Albuquerque, NM.  The review day allowed LULAC, and other organization, parents and stakeholders, an opportunity to provide feedback on various CCSS materials being developed by the State of New Mexico.

NEW MEXICO: LULAC Meets with NM Governor Sussana Martinez In June of 2013, LULAC National met with New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez and her staff to discuss Common Core State Standards (CCSS) implementation in NM. The meeting was the start of a partnership between the NM Public Education Department, LULAC, LNESC, and NIEA.   The meeting resulted in a committment to coordinate town halls, develop materials, and launch a culturally and linuistically appropriate education campaign to inform the community about the implementation of Common Core State Standards in New Mexico.

FLORIDA: LULAC Convenes Special Meeting with Florida Education State Director and Education Committee to Discuss Common Core State Standards, Other Education Efforts LULAC education advocates, including Lydia Medrano, LULAC Florida State Director, local LULAC Council Directors, and other LULAC Education Committee members, met in Miami, Florida on July 30, 2013 to discuss, among other things, the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in Florida.  Following the resignation of FL Education Commissioner Tony Bennet, LULAC members in Florida discussed ways to help inform the community regarding the implementation of the CCSS and keep working to ensure that the voices and concerns of the Latino community are addressed as Florida moves forward with the CCSS. In addition, LULAC National along with LULAC Florida’s leadership has requested a meeting with Florida Governor Rick Scott to discuss the implementation of the CCSS in the Sunshine State.

NATIONAL: LULAC Wraps Up Another Successful National Convention, Education Panel features experts on Common Core State Standards, ESEA, STEM The National LULAC Convention and Exposition took place June 17-22 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada and featured key panels with expert presenters on ESEA waivers, Common Core State Standards, measures of effective teaching, data models, and the importance of STEM education. It was standing room only at all panels and LULAC members were able to get useful resources from all the presenters. Below are links to various PowerPoint presentations used by the presenters at the panels. Resources from the Panel on Educational Reform Issues Powerpoint presentation from Jim Ferg-Cadima, Regional Counsel, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) Powerpoint presentation from Iris Maria Chávez, Assistant Field Director, The Education Trust Powerpoint presentation from Raegen Miller, Vice President of Research Partnerships, Teach for America Resources from the Panel on STEM Education Powerpoint presentation from Dr. Jarvis Sulcer, Executive Director, The Level Playing Field, and Bianca Escalante, Development Director, The Level Playing Field Powerpoint presentation from Iris Maria Chávez, Assistant Field Director, The Education Trust

FLORIDA:  FL State Convention Convenes Panel on Common Core, Higher Ed, and K-12 Issues Luis Torres, LULAC National’s Director of Education Policy, moderated an education panel at the Florida State Convention which took place on May 25-26 in Ft. Myers, Florida. The panel covered important education topics like Common Core State Standards, issues impacting ELL Students, and much more.