What is Right To Learn?

The Right To Learn Campaign began with a simple premise: that students had a valuable and untapped perspective on what needed to change in their schools so they could receive the kind of education they deserve.

In November and December 2007, more than 700 young people from across the state shared their thoughts about the biggest challenges facing California’s education system on the Right To Learn Web site. Candid and concerned, these youth—veteran consumers of California’s K-12 education system—feel they have received an inadequate education from such an innovative and wealthy state, from the teachers in their classrooms to the food in their cafeterias to the extracurricular programs their schools provide. Beyond their specific concerns, youth issued a resounding plea to educational decision-makers to involve them in their deliberations.

With California now facing a proposed $4.8 billion in cuts to funding for public education, the Right To Learn Campaign turned its attention to fighting to preserve education funding through a Day of Action, scheduled for Friday, April 18, 2008.

What is happening on April 18?
On April 18, more than 10,000 students will rally at 100 schools statewide to demonstrate their opposition to nearly $5 billion in cuts proposed for California's K-12 education system. In true grassroots style, each of those groups will be self-managed by one or more student leaders, who will decide the substance of that school's action, recruit participants and handle all logistics. Those leaders will receive ancillary support from the Right To Learn staff and the Right To Learn Web site, and will be responsible for uploading media (photos, videos, text reports) from their events on the Day of Action. That media will be made available on the Right To Learn Web site to highlight the connected nature of these individual actions.

What are you asking legislators to do policy-wise?
We're asking the governor and state legislators to support California students by agreeing to three basic tenets:

• Rejecting across-the-board cuts that would damage our public schools
• Protecting the Proposition 98, California’s minimum school funding law
• Seeking alternate solutions to address the state’s budget crisis

Beyond these concepts, Right To Learn does not advocate for any specific solution to the budget shortfall facing California. We do, however, strongly encourage you to speak with young people in your district to get their ideas for alternate ways to maintain appropriate education funding while balancing the state budget.

I agree with you -- how can I show my support for students?
Fantastic! The students of California appreciate your support.

The single most important thing you can do is to vote in accordance with the principles outlined above as we move into the legislative appropriations season. Working with us  to encourage others--particularly those in the legislative leadership--to support these principles would be a huge help to our more than 10,000 participating students.

If you are willing, we would also love to have you endorse the Right To Learn Campaign publicly and/or send words of support to our student leaders. For more information on how to do this, please visit our endorsements page or contact Campaign Director Trey Csar at trey@youthnoise.org or 415-375-3089.

How can I get more information on Right To Learn?
For more information on the Right To Learn Campaign, please contact Campaign Director Trey Csar at trey@youthnoise.org or 415-375-3089.

You can also download a copy of "Our Schools. Our Stories," a report detailing the feedback the Right To Learn Campaign received from students in November and December 2007. It's available as a PDF download and is accompanied by an online video.