TCLA: An Educational Bill of Rights: Vol.2, No.1-7

Read other issues of TCLA:

< School Report Card - 2002-2003 >

< The Digital Divide - Spring 2001 >

< Democracy 2000 - Fall 2000 >

A Students' Bill of Rights: Declaracion de los derechos de los estudiantes

Teaching to Change LA published the Students' Bill of Rights series between November 2001 and September 2002. The Students' Bill of Rights was first drafted by a group of grassroots activists and organizations who convened at UCLA in the Spring of 2001 in response to the poor conditions in Los Angeles schools. This series features articles, essays, maps, graphs, interviews with legislators, policy makers and education activists, and other work focused on the importance of universal access to a quality education. Between November 1, 2001 and October 31, 2002 over 140,000 people have visited Teaching to Change LA's Bill of Rights series.

Volume 2, Issue #1
Right # 1 = A clear statement of the academic standards that both define what students are expected to know and be able to do at every educational level and specify the basic conditions for learning that students and families can expect from the educational system.
November 2001
In this issue students and parents contemplate what every student deserves, civil rights attorneys answer questions by students, and TCLA posts an online report card on school facilities, learning materials and resources.

Volume 2, Issue #2
Right #2 = The right to adequate learning materials and resources.
Right #3 = the right to a suitable learning environment and school classrooms, buildings, and facilities that enable learning and health.
January 2002
Issue #2 focuses on the necessity of functional facilities and resources for student success. It features an interview with Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn; interviews with students on their feelings about year-round calendars; and interviews with teachers and attorneys on overcrowding in Los Angeles schools.

Volume 2, Issue #3
Right #4 = The right to quality teachers and counselors.
February 2002
This issue examines the importance of access to high quality teachers. Issue #3 features interviews with Angelenos about the teacher that made a difference in his or her life, reflections by teachers on how to sustain and support good teachers; and an interview with Assemblymember Marco Firebaugh on what can be done to ensure quality teachers.

Volume 2, Issue #4
Right #5 = The right to a course of instruction that will enable all students who wish to do so to compete for admission to any public university in the state and participate actively in California’s civic life.
March 2002
This issue takes a look at a students' right to a college prep curriculum. It features a series of GIS maps representing the retention and graduation rates of Los Angeles high schools; an interview with State Senator Richard Alarcón; and reflections by students and parents on the importance of college access.

Volume 2, Issue #5:
Right #6 = The right to a safe and supportive school environment.
Right #7 = The right to fair and authentic assessment that is used to measure and improve the quality of education.
May 2002
This double issue highlights the relationship between safe schools and safe workplaces. Issue #5 includes a profile of young people working to improve safety in the work place; an interview with an ACLU attorney about sexual harassment in schools; and interviews with teachers, students and community members who are fighting for access to fair testing.

Volume 2, Issue #6:
Youth Summit Issue
June 2002
On June 7th, students from Los Angeles schools traveled to UCLA to attend Teaching to Change LA’s 2nd annual Youth Summit entitled, "What Every Student Deserves." Students of all ages presented research on the conditions of their school facilities, the quality of their instructional materials, and the preparedness of their teachers. Students also posed questions to California Assemblymembers Judy Chu (D – 49th District) and Jackie Goldberg (D – 45th District). The materials from the presentations are published in this issue along with photos from the day.

Volume 2, Issue #7:
Acting On Our Rights
September 2002
This issue highlights the research by the Los Angeles students and parents who participated in IDEA's summer seminar. This issue includes personal stories by students and parents about becoming ‘critical researchers,’ as well as the the tools and methods used to conduct research. This issue additionally features two video documentaries, "Parents Take Action," a look at parents' foray into the comunity and "Just the Way It Is," a haunting look at the bleak reality in many California schools.