SOS Education Convention in DC Aug. 3-5, 2012

April 11th, 2012 Information about the SOS Education Convention

SAVE OUR SCHOOLS - SOS 

National Movement Dedicated to Saving, Rethinking, and Transforming Public Schools
(adopted January 29th, 2012 by the SOS Steering Committee) 

SOS Education Convention 

What: First-ever gathering of a wide-range of representatives from educational, parent, and student organizations. 

When: August 3-5, 2012 (Friday afternoon to Sunday morning)

􏰀 People attending the Convention will only have to stay Friday & Saturday nights.
Where: Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, D.C. 

Purpose: Develop the “PEOPLE’S PLATFORM for PUBLIC EDUCATION” 􏰀 This Platform will represent how educators, parents, and students believe public education should be in America.

Platform
Issues for Planks (not finalized as of this date)
1. Poverty (including anti-poverty program)
2. Civil Rights (including ELL, immigration)
3. Standards (including Common Core, impact of standards on practice) 4. Equitable Funding
5. Student Assessments
6. Teacher Evaluations and Teacher Professionalism
7. School Accountability
8. Parent and Community Involvement
9. Curriculum Development (including the arts & physical education)

10. Charter Schools (including vouchers & privatization)
    
11. Reconstituting NCLB/ESEA
    
12. Early Childhood
    
13. Students
    
14. Collective Bargaining/Unionism
    

Platform Development Process

• Campaign underway to promote the People’s Platform for Public
  Education
  
• National Conversation about the Platform Planks conducted prior to the
  Convention using the SOS website, Twitter, Facebook, and other social
  media.
  
• Draft of each Platform Plank developed prior to the Convention through
  Committees
  

• Platform Planks discussed during the Delegate Meetings held at the Convention and finalized for approval by the General Assembly on Saturday, August 4th.
  o Participants at the Convention will serve as Delegates.
  
• Signing Event at the General Assembly held on Sunday morning, August
  5th
  
• Platform delivered and presented at the Republican Convention the week of August 27th in Tampa, Florida and the Democratic Convention the week of September 3rd at Charlotte, North Carolina.
  
• Platform Planks used throughout the United States as “rallying points” for needed action to strengthen public education. 
  
  Convention Schedule at the Marriott Wardman 
  
  
  • Friday, August 3rd
    o 1:00-3:00 pm Registration
    o 3:00-5:00 pm Delegate Meetings*/Workshops
    o 5:00-7:00 pm DINNER (on your own)
    o 7:00-8:30 pm General Assembly w/keynote speaker
    
  • Saturday, August 4th
    o 8:30 am-12:00 noon
    
    • 􏰁  General Assembly w/keynote speaker
      
    • 􏰁  Delegate Meetings*/Workshops
      o 12:00 noon – 1:30 LUNCH w/keynote speaker
      o 1:30-3:30 pm Delegate Meetings*/Workshops
      o 3:30-4:00 pm AFFTERNOON SNACK
      o 4:00-5:00 pm General Assembly w/keynote speaker
      
      • 􏰁  Platform Approval
        
      • 􏰁  7:00 DINNER w/keynote speaker
        
  • Sunday, August 5th
    o 9:00-10:00 am SIGNING EVENT (attendance optional)
    o 10:30-12:30 pm Steering Committee Reflection & Follow-Up
    *Participants at the Convention will serve as delegates.