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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Susan Zucker REPORT CARD ON SWEATFREE SCHOOLS RELEASED ALBANY, N. Y. June 24, 2002-Today the New York State Labor-Religion Coalition released a report card measuring the progress of targeted Capital District school districts in the implementation of New York State's Sweatfree Purchasing legislation. Attached is a copy of the Sweatfree Schools Report Card. Those school districts that appear at the top of the list help to further the cause of eliminating child and sweatshop labor. The Coalition is committed to urging school boards that have not yet adopted a policy to move toward implementation of a Sweatfree Schools policy At the beginning of the 2001-2002 school year, Governor Pataki signed into law the "informed choice" purchasing law, also known as the sweatfree purchasing law. The law allows, but does not require, school districts to buy from sweatfree vendors. This voluntary law gives districts the opportunity to take a moral and economic stand for human rights by refusing to use taxpayer money to purchase apparel made with child or sweatshop labor. This law allows school boards to require manufacturers to provide information about the conditions under which its apparel products are made. In addition, it grants school boards the ability to legally reject a contract if the seller fails to provide the information the district requires. During this past school year, the New York State Labor-Religion Coalition, and its local coalitions initiated contact with school districts throughout the state informing them of the change in the purchasing law and urging them to take necessary steps to make their district sweatfree. Labor-Religion Coalition staff contacted thirty-five districts in the Capital District Region. This report card is based on outreach to these thirty-five school districts. In addition to issuing this report card, the coalition is working with the New York State Sweatfree Advisory Panel which it formed to assist school districts statewide in implementing an "informed choice" purchasing policy. Members include New York State Congress of Parents and Teachers, Kids Can Free the Children, New York State Council of School Superintendents, New York State Association of School Business Officials, School Administrators Association of New York State, UNITE, NYS Assemblyman John J.McEneny, New York State United Teachers, and National Education Association/NY. The New York State Labor-Religion Coalition is a human rights organization committed to worker and economic justice. ### SWEATFREE SCHOOLS REPORT CARD This report card is based on outreach to 35 of the 43 school districts in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady counties during the 2001-2002 school year. Placement on the High Honor Roll is limited to those districts that distinguished themselves by formally adopting an Informed Choice Purchasing Policy and/or incorporating Informed Choice language in agreements for the purchasing of apparel. They are leaders in the effort to eliminate child and sweatshop labor. High Honor Roll Placement on the Honor Roll is limited to those districts that have taken specific steps toward passing an Informed Choice Purchasing Policy and/or have taken steps to incorporate Informed Choice language in agreements for the purchasing of apparel. They have advanced the cause of eliminating child and sweatshop labor. Honor Roll The following districts have taken no action: Last Updated:7/10/02
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