As Tenant Organizing Committee tenants stand together to struggle to preserve their homes, JPPOP parents stand together to struggle with the bureaucracies of the Boston Public Schools and the State Department of Education.
Jamaica Plain Parent Organizing Network (JPPOP) grows from a multi-racial network of 400 parents of Boston Public School students, organized to increase grassroots participation on a number of BPS initiatives - the Student Assignment Task Force, School Site Councils, and in discussions with the Mayor and Superintendent.
Specific issues that JPPOP parent leaders addressed include the affect of proposed budget cuts on local schools, the impact of the loss of bilingual education, challenges posed by MCAS graduation requirements and the need for parent coordinators at all BPS school sites. JPPOP also works with diligence to eradicate racial discrimination in the Boston Public Schools.
JPPOP Parents and Students following Smithfield Demo.
Signs read "Smithfield Free Zone."
JPPOP is now a strong grassroots parent organization representing the interests of special needs students in the Boston Public School system. These parents are community members fighting to improve the schools their children attend and, to change the systems at the city level and the state level that hold public schools and their students back.
JPPOP joins parent leaders in discussion and analysis of the Boston educational system and how parents can influence the system for positive social change. JPPOP parents meet together regularly, attending trainings and workshops throughout the year to acquire skills and knowledge to participate in advocacy campaigns and contribute to the parent organizing efforts of JPPOP and the citywide Boston Parent Organizing Network.
As part of their organizing strategy, JPPOP parents have identified specific issues that demand attention, which include:
Negative labeling of students with special needs that undermines efforts to build on strengths;
The need to overhaul the BPS Individual Education Plan process for children with special needs to include real parent input at all steps of the process;
A lack of appropriate professional development and certification for all those working with children with special needs;
The need for appropriate translation and interpretation services for parents in all forms of communication with the school system;
A lack of a comprehensive parent handbook translated into all languages and explicating all available BPS programs and services;
Other barriers to consistent communication with classroom teachers;
An ill-conceived suspension policy and unproductive disciplinary procedures for children with special needs;
The need for guaranteed seats for all special education students in after school and summer programs; and,
The need for onsite psychologists for every 5 schools.
Actions carried out in coalition include:
2002 - Mobilization in support of bilingual education - "NO ON UNZ" in Massachusetts. JPPOP creates alliances with groups in Worcester, Springfield, and Holyoke working against this issue. The ballot issue is passed but the city of Boston votes it down.
2003 - Working as a member of Boston Parent Organizing Network, the two groups form alliances during the fight against school budget cuts, which is won.
2005- The state Department of Education proposes regressive changes to its special education policy but a first round of testimony from mobilized parents is powerful enough for the DOE to back off.
2005 - JPPOP is at the 2005 BPS budget hearings where JPPOP parents and members of the Boston Parent Organizing Network speak forcefully on the need for parent coordinator positions at every school in the system.
2005 - JPPOP organizes immigrant teens from local high schools to stand up for their educational rights as non-English speaking students. The JP Bilingual Students United is founded and JPPOP parents work in solidarity with the teens.
2006 - JPPOP parents hold monthly trainings to increase knowledge and skills. Work closely with Boston Parent Organizing Network.
2006 - JPPOP goes to New York City to protest the War in Iraq.
2006 - JPPOP protests Smithfield and declares CLVU a "Smithfield Free Zone".
Justice for Smithfield Workers! JPPOP parents are in solidarity with other struggles as they struggle for a better future for their children.
Contact:
Lucia Santana, JPPOP Coordinator 617.524.3541 X308