Our Mission

The Parent Union is a coalition of parents, parent groups, education reform advocates and community leaders dedicated to advancing meaningful education policies, accountability and choice in California’s K-12 education system.

Our Mission

The Parent Union is a coalition of parents, parent groups, education reform advocates and community leaders dedicated to advancing meaningful education policies, accountability and choice in California’s K-12 education system. 

For the last several decades, California’s public school system has been controlled by the state’s powerful teachers union lobby. The result is a school system where 8 out of 10 students can’t meet grade level math standards and more than half of students don’t read at grade-level. Teachers unions spend hundreds of millions of dollars in teacher member dues each year for lobbying and political spending to oppose every effort to hold schools — and teachers unions — accountable for failing California’s kids.

Today, parents throughout California have said “enough is enough.” Parents are standing up for students and families at school board meetings, demanding action by state legislators, and running for their local school board to right what is wrong with California’s schools.

Parent Union provides training and resources to our members, and brings parents and education reform advocates together to learn, lead and win in the battle to transform California’s education system so that every child receives the high-quality education they deserve.

“Parent Union is much more than a training organization, it’s a catalyst for action.”

— Rebecca Holz, Director, Parent Union

We Believe That:

  • Parents, not teachers’ unions, should play the leading role in their children's education; 

  • Every student should be able to read, write and do math at grade level and graduate from high school equipped to succeed in a 21st Century economy;

  • No child should be trapped in a failing school because of their zip code;

  • Parents should have the power to choose the best education option for their child; 

  • Classrooms should focus on education fundamentals, not political ideology.

Benefits to Parent Union Membership:

  • Grassroots Advocacy Training

  • Legislative Information & Take Action Alerts

  • Education Policy Research & Analysis

  • Networking with Other Parent Groups & Advocates

  • Annual Summit of Parent Group Leaders & Regional Events

  • Training for School Board Candidates 

  • Education & Resources for School Board Members 

  • Amplify Parent Group Member Issues & Events

Parent Union is a project of California Policy Center, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.