Links History Vision Accomplisments



The mission of SEOC is:
OUR VISION:

An Independent Parent Voice:
Too often, parents involved in their children's schooling identify changes in the education system that would improve their children's learning, but they don't have a way to make these changes a reality.  SEOC organizes independent parent organizations as the best way for parents to work together in a strategic and organized fashion to achieve these necessary changes.  We ensure that parents have the information and tools to make a difference. As an independent group, we ensure that no one can silence parents when we expose harsh realities and fight for difficult changes.

Safe and Healthy Learning Environments: 
We work to see that all aspects of our children's learning environment are safe and healthy.  This means students shouldn't be put in danger by their drinking water, their school lunches, or their deteriorating school buildings.  They also shouldn't be in danger walking to school or walking the hallways, whether by cars, gangs, or fighting.  SEOC has worked on campaigns related to all of these issues.

Quality Academics and Extra-Curriculars:
We envision schools with quality curricula that are challenging enough for students at the top of the class, enough books so that students can bring them home with them, enough working computers, and teachers who have experience, training, and skill at working with low-income communities and students.  We envision schools with quality art, music, and life-skills programs, and after-school activites that provide enrichment and not just baby-sitting.  And we envision schools with quality tutoring programs, which are not only mandated by law but also essential in districts where few families can afford private tutoring.  SEOC parents have drawn attention to all of these issues and built campaigns to address them.

Effective Social Support Systems:
We envision schools that have effective systems for making sure students don't fall through the cracks when they are struggling.  This means having effective guidance counselors, drop-out prevention officers, truancy officers, and social workers, with school policies that support the effective use of these staff people.  And it means having discipline policies that don't just suspend students but seek to identify and address the cause of students' misbehavior.  SEOC campaigns at the district and state levels have revolved around these issues.

High Quality School Buildings: 
While the NJ Supreme Court has clearly ruled that all low-income Abbott districts must have school facilities comparable to affluent suburbs,  the state has generally failed in terms of management and results.  SEOC has from its beginnings pressed to see high quality schools built in our communities. SEOC parents have pressed for community-oriented school designs with parents engaged in the planning; we have saved land for new schools when some cities have wanted big developers to take over land for other uses;  and we have pushed successfully for urgently needed school repairs in Newark and Camden.

Authentic Parental Engagement:
SEOC parents have worked to protect parents' rights to involvement in important decisions made at and about their children's schools.  For example, parents have a right to elect their own representative to each school's School Leadership Council, a body that addresses student achievement and, when necessary, makes recommendations on the hiring of a new school principal.  In reality, SEOC parents have had to fight to see these promises of parent involvement implemented.

Fair Funding for Our Schools: 
With the Abbott state school funding formula now under attack, parents from Abbott districts must be alert and vigilant in defense of Court-mandated educational programs for low-income schools and communities.  SEOC keeps parents informed and engaged in this important struggle.