Teaching to Change LA (www.TeachingtoChangeLA.org) is an interactive forum for parents, students, teachers, and other concerned community members to share their ideas about how schools can serve all students well. The journal explores the meaning of a fair and adequate education, suggests strategies for providing high quality public schooling, and invites people to respond to these issues.

This year Teaching to Change LA will focus on the theme of a Students’ Bill of Rights. The Students’ Bill of Rights represents our best sense of what every student in California should be guaranteed. Ranging from the right to a quality teacher to the right to a safe school environment, this list of ten rights was created by community members, educators, and young people from across greater Los Angeles.

Each month, Teaching to Change LA will focus on one of these ten rights. Participants in this civic conversation will respond to the following questions: 1) What does every California student deserve? 2) Why does guaranteeing this right matter? 3) Do all young people in your community have access to this right? 4) If not, in what ways are different groups of students being denied these rights? 5) How can all students gain these rights? 6) What can you do to expand educational opportunities in this area?

This civic conversation on the Students’ Bill of Rights aims to inform and promote public action. We hope that parents, students, educators, and other community members will develop a deeper understanding of what every student deserves and how this education can be guaranteed. But we want to move beyond mere understanding. In June, we will bring together participants in the civic conversation for a Youth Summit on the Students’ Bill of Rights. At this summit, we will build upon the contributions from the past year to develop a plan for new legislation that ensures a high quality education for every student in California.

To participate in this ongoing dialogue, go to the Talk Back section.