BEVERLY — A group of parents is doing their part to make sure their children get the best education they can.

"We don't want to sit and whine about what's not happening," said Kris Silverstein, who has kids at Briscoe Middle School and North Beverly Elementary School.

So they're hoping to launch a local chapter of Stand for Children, a grass-roots organization that advocates increased state education funding from Beacon Hill.

"I think it gives us more power in the Statehouse," Silverstein said. "We know the money isn't at the city level."

She and mothers Julie DeSilva and Debbie Ploszay plan to organize a local chapter during a meeting next Thursday at the Beverly Public Library. Speakers will include Rep. Mary Grant, businessman and time-and-learning activist Chris Gabrieli, and leaders from other Stand for Children chapters.

The closest of the state's 12 Stand for Children chapters are in North Reading and Gloucester.

The three mothers joined the organization in 2005 when they loaded onto a bus for a rally inside the Statehouse. They'll also be part of this year's rally on March 24.

Stand for Children plans to address three key issues, said Massachusetts organizing director Ellie Beck:

making sure schools don't lose funding;

pushing for more revenue by passing a hotel and meals tax and eliminating a tax-break loophole for telecommunications companies; and

giving cities and towns the option to buy into cheaper group health plans.

Nearly 500 people are expected to attend the rally and hand legislators 10,000 postcards with written testimonials supporting those causes. In Beverly, such postcards might be available at next week's meeting.

"Citizens need to show up, speak up and reach out to make sure legislators know that schools can't wait, and that children are our No. 1 priority no matter what the financial situation," DeSilva said. "We believe that Beverly's presence is important, and it's our hope that we will be able to attend this year's rally as part of a newly formed Beverly Stand for Children chapter."

At the very least, DeSilva said, being involved will mean learning more about what's going on with education in the state and staying on top of what legislators are doing. Beverly's state representative thinks that's a good idea.

"If there are tough economic times, and education gets cut, certainly the people who are most directly affected are going to speak up," Grant said. "They're speaking on behalf of their children who have one shot. Each year is either a gain or a loss. And everyone wants it to be a gain.

"When dollars get tighter, you make sure you have a voice at the table."

Staff writer Cate Lecuyer can be reached at clecuyer@salem news.com.

If you go

What: Meeting to organize Stand for Children local chapter

Where: Beverly Public Library, Sohier Room

When: Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m.

More information: E-mail krissilverstein@yahoo.com