No parent wants their child to be stuck in a failing school.

That's why parents and community organizers in California fought for and won new legislation that empowers parents to demand chronically failing schools to be structured. Now it's time for parents nationwide to have the same right.

Under the "parent trigger" law, if a majority of parents in a school attendance zone sign a petition, they gain legal authority to transform their school. This may involve bringing in a new school leader or putting the school under the management of a high-performing charter school operator, among other options.

Empowering parents is an important step to holding our schools accountable. The rest of the country needs to follow California's lead to tackle failing schools.

Children should not have to wait another year for a good education. Pledge your support for "parent trigger" laws across the country.

I support "parent trigger" laws that empower parents.

More than anyone else, parents understand the urgency and importance of fixing their local failing schools. By putting more power into parents' hands, failing schools will be forced to make significant changes immediately. Children will no longer have to wait another year for a good education.

The rest of the country needs to follow California's lead in empowering parents to turn around the failing schools attended by their children.