Organization for Promoting Long School Day

GOALS
To provide every child in Israel with an equal start in life and to enable mothers to return to the labor market.

BACKGROUND
The organization (OPLSD) was founded by activists in 2003 to work for the implementation of two laws that were approved in 1998 -- the Long School Day Law and the School Lunch Law –- in 106 unempowered localities determined by the Ministry of Education. In addition, the OPLSD is working to promote the status of working women in those localities. Last year the OPLSD was involved with the Dovrat Commission Reform, which was partially implemented .  It now looks as if the chances of full implementation are slim; thus, the struggle for a long school day remains relevant. The organization cooperates with a diversity of social change organizations.

STRATEGIES
Raising awareness of parents to the importance of implementing the law; Advocacy vis-à-vis decision and policy makers; Legal action to promote the implementation of the law and empowering mothers.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Meetings with parents in 75 localities, raising parents' awareness and examining their willingness to work with the organization. Organizing a national conference of the chairpersons of parent committees.
• Working with the Bedouin coalition for education.
• Advocacy vis-à-vis the Ministry of Education in joint action with parents and participation in Knesset committees' relevant discussions.
• Petitions to the courts when advocacy fails.
• Media activity.
• Organizing a pilot project to get mothers back into the labor market in areas where the long school day has been implemented.