West Virginia has spoken. According to state Department of Education public forums and online surveys, 88% of our state is opposed to privatizing our educational system via charter schools and “education savings account” schemes that divert needed funding from public schools.

Yet, once again, West Virginia’s Senate Republican leadership are trying to take revenge on striking school employees by attacking our state’s education system. The West Virginia legislature already rejected the revenge politics of the Omnibus bill by the Senate Republicans earlier this year, but the Senate passed many of the same measures yet again in their special session earlier this month. The Senate education bill should be rejected again. Real educational reform must involve looking at individual bills on their merits during the regular session and including the input of parents and teachers.

Students, parents and community members who want to show solidarity with our hard-working teachers and school service personnel: Join us on Monday June 17th for a student-led rally and teach-in in support of public education! We will meet at 10am inside the Capitol in front of the House chambers.  (In case things get too hectic, we will also have info tables and an overflow area set up in front of Senate chambers.)

Please wear white so we can stand out, and if you have extra white t-shirts please feel free to bring them!

Monday will be an exciting day at the Capitol! Arrive early because there will be long lines. Come for the students, stay to resist toxic polluters!