Information for Teachers

Right To Learn began in Fall 2007 with a call to students statewide to speak up about the realities they faced in their schools. The goal was to inform the governor, legislators, and media about what issues youth most cared about as we entered the 2008 "Year of Education" reform. Over 700 students spoke their minds in text, audio, and video about changes they most wanted to see in their schools. A majority of them pointed to the lack of school funding as a primary challenge to receiving the best education possible.

Unfortunately, the 2008 "Year of Education" was kicked off by a proposed $4.8 billion budget cut for California public schools. That’s the same as laying off 107,000 teachers, shutting down every school in the state nearly a month early, or increasing the number of students in every classroom by up to 35 percent.

On April 18, thousands of young people throughout the state will speak up against this proposal and demand that "We Deserve Better!" as part of a statewide Day of Action. Using our web platform as a dynamic organizing tool, over 100 student leaders will host actions on their school campuses.

During the Day of Action, the Right To Learn website will collect and feature digital media from these rallies, uniting the collective and powerful student voice denouncing these budget cuts.

Parents, teachers, school board members, school employees and administrators have already taken a stand against these budget cuts, but no one has yet to involve the youth. As a teacher, you work with students every day who deserve a well-funded education and a chance to be heard in the legislative process.

Please take a moment to consider which of your students might be well-suited to lead a Day of Action rally on your campus--organized, socially conscious and a natural communicator. Please help those students--more than one is completely acceptable--to get on our Web site at www.RightToLearnCA.org and register as leaders. If they need help, please help them get in touch with us at info@RightToLearnCA.org or 415-375-3096.

We have some additional printed materials available to help you promote the campaign. Feel free to download and use any of these PDFs:

Breaking News Flyer -- This flyer is directed at young people who might be interested in becoming Day of Action leaders.
Day of Action Poster -- This is a great poster to put up in leadership classes, hallways and main offices.
One Pager -- This is a one-page description of the Right To Learn Campaign and its past activities.
Adult D2K Flyer -- This is a flyer you can put in other teachers' mailboxes asking them to also recommend students.

We also wanted to recommend the Educasting Study Guide on California Education Reform. This Educasting series combines radio shows with interactive study guides and online resources to help you discuss with your class the history that has given rise to the current education system with all its problems and possibilities. Through the course of four programs, this program talks with innovative problem-solvers, advocates, educators, parents and students who are working to tackle some of the most pressing educational issues of our day, and in their struggle, are rebuilding, repairing and restructuring schools for the 21st century.

As always, if you have any questions about the Right To Learn Campaign, please get in touch with us at info@RightToLearnCA.org or 415-375-3096.