*** This petition was initially prepared in 2009 for the FCPS 2010 Budget ***

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The Magnet Program at Bailey's is made possible by the Magnet Bus Transportation and the CETA Arts program makes Bailey's the most economically, culturally and linguistically diverse Elementary School in Fairfax County. Diversity benefits us all. We do not want to go back to the Pre-Magnet days and have to ask again: "It took a lot of courage ... to integrate southern schools... How much courage can it take for parents next door to send their children to Bailey's" (Quote by R.Kurin, Bailey's PTA President, 1991) FCPS' Reduction Impacts document states: "Eliminating (CETA) will cut an initiative that promotes the dual purposes of increasing student achievement and developing creativity and arts participation and appreciation. In addition, it will eliminate the opportunity for Kennedy Center mentors to work with teachers to integrate the arts into curriculum and promote the creation of and participation in arts events for students." and, "Schools will lose the magnet programs that have been created to diversify their populations and fill their buildings. Bailey's ES, at 97 percent capacity with the magnet program, will suffer from the loss of these students." FCPS will save money by eliminating the Magnet Buses and the CETA Arts program but as a school, county, community, society we will lose so much more! The 1997 Case Study "BAILEY'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: EDUCATIONAL STRATEGIES FOR MAKING DIVERSITY AN ASSET"  commissioned by President Clinton's Initiative on Race stated "Just as important as Bailey's academic achievement, is its success in bringing together children and families from all backgrounds. ... Bailey's enjoys a whole new culture of cross-cultural respect and academic excellence 20 years later that has emerged from the staff's hard work and thoughtful implementation of educational strategies designed to use diversity as a strength." Visit www.BaileysPTA.org for more information and check out the links to the right on this page. The FCPS videos feature some of the programs that make Bailey's special and join BAILEY'S FACEBOOK GROUP! 

This petition was initiated by Alizé Dreyer, a 3rd grade student at Bailey's Elementary in 2009 and is sponsored by Bailey's PTA http://www.baileyspta.org/

BAILEY'S PTA: www.BaileysPTA.org