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 CaliforniaпїЅs education system on the Right To Learn Web site. Candid and concerned, these youthпїЅveteran consumers of CaliforniaпїЅs K-12 education systemпїЅfeel 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 is 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, thousands of students will rally at 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.

For more information on April 18, read the press release.

Who can I talk to for more information?
For comments about the Right To Learn Campaign, please contact Lisa Giffin at john@youthnoise.org or 415-346-4433.

Where can I get logos, pictures and other RTL materials?
Even if you can't make it out to the Day of Action, we have lots of art, videos and other materials to supplement your story, video or blog post:

• Official Right To Learn logos (in EPS and JPG formats)
  
• Pictures from YouthNoise Summits, where young people talk about how they can improve education in California ( via Flickr )
• "Our Schools. Our Stories" -- This report summarized what students had to say about education in California from November-December 2007.
  

  Report ( PDF )
  Video ( via YouthNoise )
  Press Release ( PDF )