Race to Nowhere: The Film, The Movement

Helpful Websites


Alliance for Childhood The website and organization support children's health development, love of learning and joy in living. Lots of focus on loss of play and hands-on activities, excessive amount of time in front of a screen, the misuse of testing and the increase in childhood obesity.
American Academy of Pediatrics Site provides general information relating to physical, mental and social health for children and adolescents.
American Educational Research Association (AERA) AERA is the most prominent professional organization concerned with improving the educational process by encouraging the dissemination and practical application of research results with the primary goal of advancing educational research and its practical application. Its more than 25,000 members are educators, administrators, directors of research, persons working with testing or evaluation in federal, state and local agencies, counselors, evaluators, graduate students and behavioral scientists.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention includes a link to its Teen Suicide Prevention Campaign. It lists warning signs and actions that youth and adults can take to help prevent suicide.
Big Picture Learning Big Picture Learning's mission is to lead vital changes in education by generating and sustaining innovative, personalized schools that work in tandem with the real world of the greater community. Big Picture students work in their communities with volunteer mentors and are not evaluated solely on the basis of standardized tests. Students are assessed on their performance on exhibitions and demonstrations of achievement, on motivation and on the habits of mind, hand, heart, and behavior that they display.
Center on Education Policy The Center on Education Policy is a national, independent advocate for public education and for more effective public schools. The Center helps Americans better understand the role of public education in a democracy, the need to improve the academic quality of public schools, to make sense of the conflicting opinion and perceptions about public education, and create the conditions that wil lead to better public schools.
Challenge Success Challenge Success is an expanded version of the Stanford University School of Education Stressed Out Students Project. The mission is to "inform, inspire, and equip youth, parents and schools to adopt practices that expand options for youth success. The founders of Challenge Success are advisors to the film.
Colleges That Change Lives A highlight of the 40 colleges included in Loren Pope's "Colleges that Change Lives" and the organization is dedicated to a student-focused college search process.
Common Sense Media Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology.
East Bay Homework Blog Kerry Dickinson, a parent, teacher and advisor to the film recently launched a blog and is a thoughtful writer on topics relating to education, parenting, and homework. She advocated for change to her school district's homework policy and participated in the task force that ultimately wrote a new policy for a district in Northern California serving 24,000 students.
Edutopia Founded by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, Edutopia is a place where kids and parents, teachers and administrators, policy makers and the people they serve are empowered to change education for the better. Visit the site to discover the latest practical, hands-on advice and real world examples for developing lifelong learners and the skills needed to succeed in the 21st century.
Everyday Democracy (Formerly Study Circles) Everyday Democracy is an organization whose mission is to help communities develop their own ability to solve problems by exploring ways for all kinds of people to think, talk and work together to create change.
Fair Test This not for profit works to "end the misuses and flaws of standardized testing and to ensure that evaluation of students, teachers and schools is fair, open and educationally beneficial. Make sure to look at the site's list of colleges that make admissions decisions for a number of applicants without the SAT or ACT.
Help Guide The Help Guide's goal is to provide information and encouragement for youth and adults to make healthy choices. Robert and Jeanne Segal spearheaded the founding of this project in 1999, following the suicide of their daughter, Morgan. They believe that Morgan's tragedy could have been avoided if she had had easy access to supportive health information. Their mission is to honor her memory and compassionate spirit by providing balanced, up-to-date, and motivating informatoin about mental health and lifelong wellness.
Inspire The Inspire Foundation combines technology with direct involvement of young people to deliver innovative and practical online programs that prevent youth suicide and improve young people's mental health and wellbeing. The mission is to help millions of young people lead happier lives. The organization's work is backed by research and evaluation. Reach Out is their web-based initiative that offers information, support and resources to help young people improve their understanding of mental health issues, develop resilience, and increase their coping skills and help-seeking behavior. The services provided are anonymous and help is available 24 hours a day.
Just-In-Time Stress Relief JITSR, a product of Wellness Logic, LLC., started in 2005 to provide subscribers with low-cost access to an effective set of stress management methods and tools. Based on practices proven at The Stanford University School of Medicine, JITSR uses technology to help people develop stress management habits that automatically result in reduced stress and enhanced performance.
Kids Health Kids health provides a comprehensive information about health, behavior and development from infant through adolescence. The site has a place for parents and young people.
Mental Health America Mental Health America (formerly know as the National Mental Health Association) is a non-profit with 320 affiliates nationwide representing a growing movement of Americans who promote mental wellness for the health and well-being of the nation - every day and in times of crisis. Their website includes fact sheets for youth and families about topics such as back to school tips and you child's mental health. It also includes fact sheets about bullying, depression and suicide.
Mindfulness in Education Network The Mindfulness in Education Network was established in 2001 by a group of educators and students of Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Master and peace activist nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Network sees mindfulness as an antidote to the growing stress, conflict and confusion in educational settings as well as an invaluable gift to give students. The network facilitates communication among all educators, parents, students and any others interested in promoting contemplative practice (mindfulness) in educational settings.
National Alliance for Youth Sports NAYS is a leading advocate for positive and safe sports and activities for children and offers services for coaches, parents, young athletes and administrators.
National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center The National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center links to a fact sheet about youth suicide including risks and protective factors.
Pikler Institute The International Emmi Pikler Foundation at Loczy is guided by the mission of founder Dr. Emmi Pikler to offer aid in raising healthy, happy children. Established in 1946, this internationally recognized agency is dedicated to empowering children and families through outreach programs that serve the child, parent and caregiver.
Positive Coaching Alliance Founded by Stanford University, the mission of this organization is to "transform youth sports so sports can transform youth."
Psychalive A site drawing on leading psychology experts who specialize in a broad range of subjects related to emotion well-being. The information on the site is derived from the research of the Glendon Association, a non-profit organization.
Raising Resilient Children Foundation Disseminates information to assist adults to raise, support and develop stress-hardy children.
Reach Out The Inspire Foundation combines technology with direct involvement of young people to deliver innovative and practical online programs that prevent youth suicide and improve young people's mental health and well-being. The mission is to help millions of young people lead happier lives. The organization's work is backed by research and evaluation. Reach Out is its web-based initiative that offers information, support and resources to help young people improve their understanding of mental health issues, develop resilience and increase their coping skills and help-seeking behavior. The services provided are anonymous and help is available 24 hours a day.
Resilience Research Centre The Resilience Research Centre bring together leaders in the field of resilience research from different disciplines and cultural backgrounds. Their partners across six continents employ methodologically diverse approaches to the study of how children, youth and families cope with many different kinds of adversity.
Resiliency in Action Resiliency in Action contains general information and research about resilience.
Seeding The Future NOW Seeding The Future NOW is a group of adult and youth visionaries seeking to work with communities to co-create unique educational models around the globe. The models we choose to create support children from the inside out in a reverent, holistic, ecological and just fashion.
Stop Homework Blog Sara Bennett, an advisor to the film and co-author of the book "The Case Against Homework: How Homework is Hurting our Children and What We Can Do About It" writes this blog and supports parents and educators interested in advocating for change.
Susan Ohanian Susan Ohanian, a longtime teacher, maintains this site reflecting the leadership role she has taken in opposing NCLB, high stakes testing and the resulting take over of curriculum.
Teaching to Change L.A. Teaching to Change L.A. is an online journal of UCLA'S Institute for Democracy, Education and Access. Here you will find the work and thought of educators, students, parents and activists who confront critical issues that schools and communities face across greater Los Angeles.
The Alternative Education Resource Organization (AERO) AERO's goal is to advance student-driven, learner-centered approaches to education. AERO makes connections with international educational alternatives including Montessori, Waldorf (Steiner), Public Choice and At-Risk, Democratic, Homeschool, Open, Charter, Free, Sudbury, Holistic, Virtual, Magnet, Early Childhood, Reggio Emilia, Indigo, Krishnamurti, Quaker, Libertarian, Independent, Progressive, Community, Cooperative, and Unschooling. One of AERO's areas of expertise is democratic process and democratic education.
The Coalition for a Better Education The Coalition for a Better Education is a group of educators and parents in Colorado working to eliminate state-wide standardized testing in Colorado and certain aspects of No Child Left Behind.
The Coalition of Essential Schools (CES) The CES network includes hundreds of schools and more than two-dozen Affiliate Centers. Diverse in size, population and programmatic emphasis, Essential Schools serve students from pre-kindergarten through high school in urban, suburban and rural communities, and they are characterized by personalization, democracy and equity, and intellectual vitality and excellence.
The Education Conservancy An organization dedicated to improving the college admissions process for students, high schools and colleges.
The Independent Curriculum Group The Independent Curriculum Group is part of a growing movement of leading college preparatory schools that have de-emphasized curriculum driven by standardized testing.
The Institute for Language and Education Policy The Institute for Language and Education Policy is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting research-based policies in serving English and heritage language learners. The Institute critiques misguided "accountability" measures, high stakes testing, cutbacks in school funding and English-only activism.
The Jed Foundation The Jed Foundation works nationally to reduce the rate of suicide and the prevalence of emotional distress among college and university students. To achieve this end, the organization collaborates with the public and leaders in higher education, mental health, and research to produce and advance initiatives.
The National Survey of Student Engagement NSEE gathers data about colleges and universities beyond the usual rankings. The organization examines student engagement, how students spend their time and what students perceive they gain from attending college.
The Public Conversations Project The Public Conversation Project is an organization whose mission is to guide, train and inspire individuals, organizations and communities to constructively address conflicts relating to values and worldviews.
The Trevor Project The Trevor Project is a National organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. It operates a nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGBTQ youth. The website includes prevention resources.
Whole Child Education Working to bring parents, educators, policy makers and communities together to ensure children are prepared for adulthood, this group is advocating for development of children who are healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged. A wonderful resource for those interested in advocating for change in education that emphasizes the whole child.
Will to Live Foundation The mission of Will to Live is to be a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to improving the lives and the 'Will To Live' of teenagers everywhere.Through education, motivation, consultation, charity, support and most importantly, love and fellowship, they work for and through these young adults to help them always find the "Good" in life and a "Will To Live" through all of life's trials.