Other Sources and Links

PARENT RESOURCES IN CALIFORNIA

California Association of Student Councils
1212 Preservation Park Way
Oakland, CA 94612
tel. (510) 834-2272
fax (510) 834-2275
Web: http://www.casc.net
Statewide high school leadership organization, representing almost all California high schools.

EdVoice
926 J Street, Suite 810
Sacramento, CA 95814
tel. (916) 448-3868
fax (916) 448-5620
Web: http://www.edvoice.net
Political advocacy of the smart sort, EdVoice exists to bring citizens' opinions to lawmakers' desks. They focus on four issues a year, and lobby to create wise law (and prevent dumb bills from becoming law). Their successes include the passage of Prop. 39 and the defeat of AB 2160. Distinguished leadership (Ted Lempert, retired legislator himself), a capable staff, and a powerful board make them a force for progress.

HomeSchool Association of California
P.O. Box 2442
Atascadero, CA 93423
hot line (805) 462-0726
voice mail (707) 765-5375
Web: http://www.hsc.org
Supports and promotes homeschooling, providing information, monitoring legislation, and helping families new to homeschooling start their own schools. Produces publications and sponsors an annual conference.

Parent Teachers Association (PTA)
P.O. Box 15015
Los Angeles, CA 90015
tel. (213) 620-1100
fax (213) 620-1411
Web: http://www.capta.org/
Oldest parent organization, the PTA provides a forum for parents, teachers, and school administrators to work together. Information on schools, current education issues, and parenting. PTA chapters exist in most schools, and chapter membership is open to all people with an interest in educational issues, including high school students. The PTA is a nonprofit organization funded by annual membership dues and local fundraising events.

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STUDENT AND CURRICULUM ORGANIZATIONS

California Arts Council
1300 "I" Street, Suite 930
Sacramento, CA 95814
tel. (916) 322-6555
fax (916) 322-6575
Web: http://www.cac.ca.gov/
A state agency funding artists-in-residence programs.

California Association for the Gifted
5777 West Century Blvd., Suite 1670
Los Angeles, CA 90045
tel. (310) 215-1898
fax (310) 215-1832
Web: http://www.cagifted.org
Statewide organization of parents and educators committed to appropriate educational opportunities for gifted and talented students. Services include publications, teacher training and certification, research grants, student scholarships, and advocacy at all levels of government.

California Interscholastic Federation
State Office:
664 Gallinas Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94903
(415) 492-5911
Web: http://www.cifstate.org/

Southern California Office:
425 East 18th Street, #9
Costa Mesa, CA 92629
(714) 574-0924
Coordinates and monitors interscholastic sports and setting standards for participation.

Community Board Program
1540 Market Street, Room 490
San Francisco, CA 94102
tel. (415) 552-1250
fax (415) 626-0595
Web: http://www.igc.org/igc/conflictnet/index.html
Provides schools and youth-serving agencies, in California and throughout the country, with the staffing and materials to implement and maintain conflict resolution programs, curricula, and peer mediation programs.

FAIRTEST: The National Center for Fair and Open Testing
342 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02139
tel. (617) 864-4810
fax (617) 497-2224
Web: http://www.fairtest.org/
A nonprofit public education and advocacy organization working to eliminate flaws in and misuses of standardized multiple-choice tests.

Mathematically Correct
P.O. Box 22083
San Diego, CA 92192-2083
Web: http://www.mathematicallycorrect.com/
Provides a wealth of information to help parents challenge the "new new math."

People for the American Way
2000 M. Street, N.W., Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 467-4999
in California, (310) 823-2860
Web: http://www.pfaw.org/
STAR (Students Talk About Racism) is a project of People for the American Way. STAR recruits college volunteers to lead discussions on racism and sexism in high school and middle school classrooms.

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DISABILITY RIGHTS GROUPS

DREDF (Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund)
2212 Sixth Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
phone: (510) 644-2555
Web: http://www.dredf.org/
Serves the East Bay area providing legal representation, training, information and referral, and advocacy.

Exceptional Parents Unlimited
4120 North First Street
Fresno, CA 93726
(209) 229-2000
e-mail: epu1@cybergate.com
Serves the Central Valley area.

Matrix: A Parent Network and Resource Center
555 Northgate Drive, Suite A
San Rafael, CA 94903
(415) 499-3877
Web: http://www.matrixparents.org/

Schwab Foundation for Learning
1660 South Amphlett Boulevard, Suite 200
San Mateo, CA 94402-2508
tel. (650) 655-2410
fax (650)655-2411
Web: http://www.schwablearning.org/
The Schwab Foundation for Learning offers a wide range of services for parents and educators to provide information, support and resources to improve the lives of students with learning differences.

Team of Advocates for Special Kids (TASK)
100 West Cerritos Avenue
Anaheim, CA 92085
(714) 533-8275
Web: http://www.taskmil.org/
Serves Bakersfield to the Mexican border.

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ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH GROUPS

California Network of Educational Charters (CANEC)
926 J Street, Suite 820
Sacramento, CA 95814
tel.: 916-448-0995
fax: 916-448-0998
Web: http://www.canec.org/about.html
If you're interested in starting a charter school, this is the place to begin. California Network of Educational Charters is a statewide nonprofit, non-partisan association that advocates for charter schools in the state. In their own words, "CANEC is committed to developing an essential linkage among charter participants and facilitating dialogue on charter schools necessary to ensure quality educational programs for all students."

California Parents for Educational Choice
2291 Stockton St. #407
San Francisco, CA 94133
tel. (415) 982-6403
fax: (415) 982-6413
Web: http://www.cpeconline.org/
This organization formed in late 1999 to expand the range of parent choice of schools. They are advocates of charters, vouchers, and public sector choice. Their view is that if Pell Grants are fine for higher education, then voucher grants should be fine for K-12 students, giving parents the power to vote for schools with a tuition check in hand. Membership dues are $12 per year.

California Tomorrow
436 14th St., Suite 820
Oakland, CA 94612
tel. (510) 496-0220
fax (510) 496-0225
Web: http://www.californiatomorrow.org
In-depth research, advocacy, and technical assistance to build a society that values racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity. Publications on immigrant students, school restructuring, youth services, and early childhood education, with local examples of model programs to help parents and schools take the next step.

Children Now
1212 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94612
tel. (510) 763-2444
fax (310) 268-1994 (note different area code)
Web: http://www.childrennow.org/
A nonpartisan, independent voice for California children. Publishes report card on the well-being of California children; works with media to improve news coverage about children. Useful information, though education per se is not on the group's agenda.

Coleman Advocates for Children & Youth
2601 Mission Street, #804
San Francisco, CA 94110
tel. (415) 641-4362
fax (415) 641-1708
Web: http://www.colemanadvocates.org
Organization that spearheaded passage of San Francisco's Children's Amendment, guaranteeing a percentage of the city's budget for children's services; provides funding for advocacy on local children's issues as well as information on starting local child advocacy organizations and initiatives.

Decent Schools for California
c/o ACLU, Southern California
1616 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90026
tel. 213 977-9500
Web: http://www.decentschools.org
Organization formed by the law firms working on behalf of the plaintiffs in the Williams lawsuit. This suit is attempting to redefine the meaning of an adequate education in California, and hopes to make the state government the guarantor of adequate conditions in every public school in the state. The ACLU's southern California chapter leads the list of groups, which also includes Public Advocates and the Mexican-American Legal Defense Fund.

EdVoice
926 J Street, Suite 810
Sacramento, CA 95814
tel. (916) 448-3868
fax (916) 448-5620
Web: http://www.edvoice.net
Political advocacy of the smart sort, EdVoice exists to bring citizens' opinions to lawmakers' desks. They focus on four issues a year, and lobby to create wise law (and prevent dumb bills from becoming law). Their successes include the passage of Prop. 39 and the defeat of AB 2160. Distinguished leadership (Ted Lempert, retired legislator himself), a capable staff, and a powerful board make them a force for progress.

Ed-Data Education Partnership
Web: http://www.ed-data.k12.ca.us/
Offers the latest fiscal, demographic and performance data about California's K–12 public schools. Useful for looking up facts about school districts and schools.

EdSource
4151 Middlefield Road, Suite 100
Palo Alto, CA 94303
tel. (650) 857-9604
fax (650) 857-9618
Web: http://www.edsource.org/
Respected nonprofit that excels at explaining complex educational issues. Publishes monthly fact sheets, policy briefs and annual resource cards that are handy for briefing media or opinion leaders. Major focus on school finance. Sponsors annual conference. Materials are concise, useful, and impartial.

Pacific Research Institute
755 Sansome Street, #450
San Francisco, CA 94111
tel. (415) 989-0833
fax (415) 989-2411
web: http://www.pacificresearch.org
A policy organization that leans to the right of center, known for producing series and original research on issues relevant to K-12 education in California and nationally. From conservative to libertarian, their scholars have produced solid work in the areas of charter school, school finance, graduation rates, school choice, and academic standards.

Public Policy Institute of California
500 Washington Street, Suite 800
San Francisco, CA 94111
tel. (415) 291-4400
fax (415) 291-4401
web: http://www.ppic.org
Highly esteemed research organization known especially for the quality of its survey work. If there's an important public policy education issue, PPIC has conducted a survey on it. Their work is referenced by everyone. Their materials are available on request. Mark Baldassare is their lead survey director

PACE (Policy Analysis for California Education)
School of Education
3653 Tolman Hall
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720
tel. (510) 642-7223
fax (510) 642-9148
Web: http://pace.berkeley.edu/
Independent, nonpartisan, university-based (Stanford and U.C. Berkeley) education policy research center. Extensive publication list.

State Committee of Practitioners for Title I
Diane Raulston
8015 Greenly Drive
Oakland, CA 94605
(510) 569-6778
Web: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ (see "community")
Assists parents in developing school and district Title I advisory committees; provides workshops and training for parents on their rights and responsibilities under Title I.

State of California Department of Education
560 "J" Street
Sacramento, CA 94244
Web: http://www.cde.ca.gov/
Frequently used numbers:
Information: (916) 657-2451
Public Information: (916) 657-3027
Superintendent: (916) 657-4766
Elementary Schools: (916) 657-3351
Middle Schools: (916) 657-4399
High Schools: (916) 657-2532
Charter Schools: (916) 657-5142
School Safety: (916) 323-1117
Special Education: (916) 445-4602
Choice: (916) 657-2757
At-Risk Youth: (916) 323-2212
Legal Office: (916) 657-2453
Family and Community Partnerships: (916) 657-3768
Healthy Start: (916) 657-3558
Complaints Management Services (916) 657-2754

School Wise Press
385 Ashton Ave., Ste. 200
San Francisco, CA 94112
tel. (415) 337-7972
fax. (415 337-1146
web: http://www.schoolwisepress.com
e-mail: info@schoolwisepress.com

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