Revitalizing Education

A Working-Class Vision for Alabama Schools

Our education system's emphasis on standardized testing and rigid learning models puts immense pressure on both students and teachers.

As a result, teachers are overworked and underpaid, while students are forced into a system that values academic compliance over well being. It's time we put students and teachers first.

• Thriving Schools, Not Just Test Scores: Teach for Learning, Not for Testing: Eliminate standardized testing as the primary measure of success. Shorten class times and focus on models of deeper engagement that support academic and technical learning. 
• Equal Funding for All Public Schools: No More “School Choice” Scams: Public money should stay in public schools. School choice is draining funds from rural public education to prop up private and charter schools that serve wealthier communities. We need to fully fund rural schools so every child gets a quality education, regardless of their zip code.
• Pay Teachers Respectable Wages: Raises that match inflation—teachers in Alabama haven’t had a real raise in 12 years. Retirement at 25 years for all teachers and Cost-of-living adjustments for retired teachers. No one should dedicate their life to teaching and struggle to pay their bills in retirement.

To build a better future, we must create a system that serves working people, empowers communities, and treats both students and teachers as whole humans.

“They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.” - Matthew 23:4