| Pennsylvania
Alliance Organizing Project (AOP)
The Alliance Organizing Project
(AOP) describes itself as a membership-based organization of Philadelphia parents
and other stakeholders who aim to improve the quality of schools and to empower
the community so that all children can achieve. Founded in 1995, the AOP works
to educate and fund professional community organizers with the stated mission
of training parents to be able to hold all parts of the community accountable
for maintaining and improving a quality public education system. AOP believes
that parent and community organizing is the key component to creating and sustaining
deep parental involvement in schools.The AOP further seeks to meet its goals by
bringing together stakeholders and by conducting issue campaigns at the school
or city level.
Executive Director: Melania F. Page-Gaither
511 N.
Broad Street, 3rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19123
Phone: (215) 625-9916 or
9917 or 9918
Fax: (215) 625-9116
aop@allianceorg.org
The Association of Community
Organizations for Reform Now ACORN describes itself as the nation's
largest community organization of low and moderate-income families, with over
120,000 member families organized into 600 neighborhood chapters in 45 cities
across the country. Since 1970 ACORN has taken action on many of the political
and social issues which concern its members. ACORN's priorities include: better
housing for first time homebuyers and tenants, living wages for low-wage workers,
more investment in our communities from banks and governments, and better public
schools. ACORN hopes to achieve these goals by supporting community-based organizations
that have the power to affect change locally-- through direct action, negotiation,
legislation, and voter participation. A list of contact information for
the ACORN offices in Pennsylvania can be found on the ACORN
website. Center
for Greater Philadelphia The Center for Greater Philadelphia (CGP),
a unit of the University of Pennsylvania founded in 1985, states that its mission
is to promote regional cooperation among the public and private sectors in Greater
Philadelphia by playing the roles of "neutral third-party convener, grassroots
organizer, and objective public policy analyst." CGP's major initiatives
include "Operation Public Education," which is working to attain adequate
and equitable school funding, define accountability, and build a statewide coalition
around these goals; the Greater Pennsylvania High School Project; and the New
Standards in Education project. Center for Greater Philadelphia
Director:
Theodore Hershberg
3701 Chestnut Street, 6th Floor East
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania 19104
Phone: (215) 898-8713
Fax: (215) 898-9783
cgpinfo@pobox.upenn.edu Education
Law Center - PA The Education Law Center-PA (ELC-PA) states that
it is a non-profit legal advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that all
of Pennsylvania's children have access to a quality public education. ELC-PA,
based in Philadelphia with a branch office in Pittsburgh, provides advice to families
and advocates on students' legal rights, analyzes state and federal policies,
and provides legal representation to public school students and their parents.
The organization also operates the Pennsylvania
School Reform Network. Education Law Center
1315 Walnut Street,
Suite 400
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107-4798
Phone: (215) 238-6970
Fax: (215) 772-3125
TTY: (215) 238-5892
elc@elc-pa.org Education
Policy and Leadership Center The Education Policy and Leadership
Center, based in Harrisburg, describes itself as an independent, non-partisan
organization that focuses on education policy, education leadership, and education
advocacy. The Center, founded in 1998, makes its information and activities available
to policymakers, educators, community leaders and other citizens. The Center's
current policy projects focus on implementation of standards, school finance,
teacher quality and supply, and charter schools. The organization also hosts the
ongoing Pennsylvania Education Policy Forum breakfast series and publishes the
electronic Pennsylvania Education Policy Letter. Education Policy and Leadership
Center
President: Ronald Cowell
800 North Third Street, Suite 408
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17102
Phone: (717) 260-9900
Fax: (717) 260-9903
comments@eplc.org Good
Schools Pennsylvania Good Schools Pennsylvania describes itself
as a coalition of grassroots, regional, statewide and national organizations seeking
to mobilize parents, students, and concerned citizens to advocate for improved
public education. The organization's primary goals are to expand education funding,
reform the funding distribution formula, pass a set of standards and accountability
measures, and educate civic leaders and elected officials on these issues. Good
Schools Pennsylvania's statewide grassroots initiatives include organizing 1000
"Groups of 10" citizens in communities across the state, establishing
chapters at high schools and on college campuses, coordinating statewide and regional
rallies, holding interfaith vigils, and bringing volunteers to Harrisburg to lobby
the legislature every day that it is in session.
6757 Greene St.
Philadelphia, PA 19119
Phone: (215) 332-2700
info@goodschoolspa.org
Parents Union for Public Schools Parents Union for Public
Schools (PUPS), formed in 1972, describes itself as a citywide, multiracial parents'
group that serves as an informational resource for parents. PUPS maintains a comprehensive
library of fiscal and organizational information, such as test scores and attendance
rates, on each of the 257 schools in the Philadelphia public school system. The
organization's goal is to provide parents with meaningful and adequate information
to be able to have direct conversations with school officials. Sarah Gilliam,
Executive Director
Parents Union for Public Schools
228 West Chelten Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 11944
Phone: (215) 991-9724
Fax: (215) 991-9943
parentsu@aol.com Pennsylvania
Association for Rural and Small Schools The Pennsylvania Association
of Rural and Small Schools (PARSS) was started in 1984 by a group of public school
superintendents concerned about adequate education funding and quality education
for students in the state's rural and small school districts. PARSS conducts research
and legislative advocacy activities on issues related to rural and small schools. Joseph
Bard, Executive Director
212 Locust St., Suite 400
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: (717) 236-7180
Fax: (717) 236-6240 Pennsylvania
Coalition for Parent Involvement, Ltd. The Pennsylvania Coalition for
Parent Involvement states that its mission is to advocate for the involvement
of parents and families in their children's education and to foster relationships
between home, school, and community. The organization sponsors an annual "Family
Involvement Conference," which brings together several hundred parents, school
board members, and educators from Pennsylvania and neighboring states. Louis
B. Casari, President
Pennsylvania Coalition for Parent Involvement, Ltd.
19 El Camino Road
Hazleton, Pennsylvania 18201-7513
Phone: (570) 455-8196
Fax: (570) 455-8190
30parinv@psupen.psu.edu Pennsylvania
Coalition for Public Education The Pennsylvania Coalition for Public
Education, formed in 1994, is a group of more than 30 organizations representing
basic and higher education, parents, teacher and community groups, and the Pennsylvania
Department of Education. These organizations work together to promote the value
of public education through a variety of means, including disseminating information
to the education community and the general public on an ongoing basis. Pennsylvania
Coalition for Public Education
P.O. Box 6993
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
17112-0933 Pennsylvania League of Urban Schools The Pennsylvania
League of Urban Schools (PLUS), formed in 1973 and incorporated in 1983, states
that its mission is to bring together Pennsylvania's urban school districts to
seek solutions to the unique and pressing educational and financial problems which
they face. Its members are 24 urban school districts that enroll over 20 percent
of the state's children. PLUS's activities include facilitating a structured exchange
of ideas and materials between its members, proposing and supporting legislation,
developing statistical reports, and convening seminars and conferences on issues
related to urban education. James Goodhart, Jr., President
Pennsylvania
League of Urban Schools
213 State Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101
Phone: (717) 238-3360
Fax: (717) 232-5905 Pennsylvania
Partnerships for Children Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children
describes itself as a non-partisan non-profit organization that works to improve
the health, education, and well-being of Pennsylvania's children. The organization,
founded in 1990, focuses on early care and education, child health, and family
supports. PPC's major activities include research and analysis, legislative advocacy,
coalition-building and community mobilization, public awareness, and training
and technical assistance. Joan L. Benso, President and CEO
20 North
Market Square, Suite 300
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101-1632
Phone: (717)
236-5680 / (800) 257-2030
Fax: (717) 236-7745
info@papartnerships.org Pennsylvania
School Reform Network The Pennsylvania School Reform Network (PSRN)
describes itself as a non-partisan, non-sectarian membership organization that
advocates for proven programs and practices that schools and communities can use
to improve student learning. PSRN provides information to parents, educators,
legislators, and advocates, and monitors legislation and the state budget. Along
with the Education Law Center of Pennsylvania, PSRN sponsors the Partnership for
Fair Chance Schools, which advocates for adequate funding of public schools in
rural Pennsylvania. Timothy Potts, Director
Pennsylvania School Reform
Network
Commerce Towers, 12th Floor
300 North 2nd Street
Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania 17101
Phone: (717) 238-7171
Fax: (717) 238-7552
psrn@elc-pa.org Public
Education Network Local Affiliates: Lancaster
Foundation for Educational Enrichment Established in 1989, LFEE
states that it promotes educational excellence in the School District of Lancaster
by strengthening community participation and by providing support for initiatives
not funded by current tax revenues.
Laura Sadler Olin, Executive Director
445 N. Reservoir Street
Lancaster, PA 17602
Phone: (717) 391-8660
Fax: (717) 391-8659
info@lfee.org
Mon Valley Education Consortium The
Mon Valley Education Consortium, a Local Education Fund established in 1987, describes
itself as a non-profit, third-party intermediary organization that works in 25
school districts in southwestern Pennsylvania to promote systemic change and improved
student achievement in the region's public schools. The Consortium's work is focused
on school improvement and student achievement, public engagement, and leadership
and governance. The Consortium is a member of the national Public Education Network.
Dr. Linda Croushore, Executive Director
336 Shaw Avenue
McKeesport,
PA 15123
Phone: (412) 678-9215
Fax: (412) 678-1698
mvec@mvec.org
Philadelphia
Education Fund The Philadelphia Education Fund is a local education
fund and member of the national Public Education Network. Founded in 1985, the
Fund states that it works to improve the quality of public education for all children
in Philadelphia through direct student services, professional development for
teachers and administrators, public engagement, research, and policy recommendations.
Dr. Nancy J. McGinley,Executive Director
7 Benjamin Franklin Parkway,
Suite 700
Philadelphia, PA 19103 1028
Phone: (215) 665-1400
Fax:
(215) 864-2494
nmcginley@philaedfund.org
Pittsburgh
Council on Public Education (PCPE) The Pittsburgh Council on Public
Education (PCPE), a local education fund that is a member of the national Public
Education Network, describes itself as an independent voice mobilizing the Pittsburgh
community to invest in public education. PCPE, whose members include parents,
educators, civic leaders, community members, and business people, aims to have
an impact on education funding by providing information to the public, developing
partnerships with other groups on issues related to public education, and empowering
parents to act as leaders in their local schools. PCPE's website offers information
on Parent Engagement Resource Centers (PERCs), pending legislation on the state
and federal level, and implications of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Approximately
three times a year, the Council publishes a newsletter, Public Voices for Public
Schools.
Director of Policy and Publications: Faith Schantz
2934
Smallman Street, 2nd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Phone: (412) 434-0851
Fax: (412) 281-6683 or 6678
ed4allkids@aol.com
Public
Interest Law Center of Philadelphia
The Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia’s
stated mission is to advance the Constitutional promise
of equal citizenship to all persons irrespective of
race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, gender
or poverty. The Law Center has litigated school funding
issues in federal and state court on behalf of parents
and advocacy organizations seeking equity and adequacy
for all Pennsylvania students. It provides analysis,
technical assistance and legal services to parents and
organizations seeking to provide quality education for
all students.
The Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia
125 S. Ninth Street, Suite 700
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Executive Director: Jennifer Clarke
215-627-7100 (t)
215-627-3183 (f)
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