At last, someone who knows and cares about public education has made a Youtube video that tells the story of ALEC and the privatization movement, linking them to the outpouring of legislation against teachers and public education. Share this with your friends and neighbors. The narrator is Julie Mead, the dean of education at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Karran Harper Royal is a founding member of Parents Across America. Gary Miron of Western Michigan University wrote the National Education Policy Center’s report on K12.
The video is called “Which CEO Made $5 Million Stealing Your Kid’s Lunch Money.” Help it go viral.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Everyone needs to send this today to all in your address book.
Watch it, do it and then go enjoy your Saturday.
I sent to the education committee in my state legislature. I created their emails during our reform fight..send, send, send, send! Teacher, parents, taxpayers, relatives, politicians, friends, enemies, everybody.
I wish they had mentioned the Milliken connection to k12.
Does anybody have an extra $1495 to attend this conference in NYC on July 26 to see how the privatizers do it?
Private Equity Investing In For-Profit Education Companies
Middle-Market Investors Are Finding Lots of Profitable High-Growth Segments
http://capitalroundtable.com/masterclass/For-Profit-Education-Private-Equity-Conference-2012.html
From the Website:
Education is now the second largest market in the U.S., valued at $1.3 trillion. So while an industry of this size will always be scrutinized by regulators, the most onerous recent changes are likely over, and investors should face an easier climate down the road. And while eventual passage is not guaranteed, several pieces of legislation favoring the for-profit industry have been proposed in Congress.
In the K-12 space, the federal “Race To The Top” initiative has enabled a growing level of privatization in the K-12 segment, and rewarding districts for embracing alternative models, technological advances, and locally-based criteria.
Schools in these states have more flexibility in how they spend federal funds to benefit students, which benefits for-profit companies focusing on high-quality programs and services.
No and the location is secret. I saw this a while ago and I wondered how we could get a mole to attend and audiotape. Any ideas?
I would chip in $20 for someone to go and take notes. Anybody else willing to chip in? Is anybody else willing to go?
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/local-education/11-palm-beach-county-schools-grades-raised-after-s/nPzQ6/
Here is a link to the latest debacle in our long saga of the FCAT here in Florida.
A quick note on this film. Everyone reading this should get this video in front of your PTAs (and School Advisory Councils) immediately when school begins.
Legislation on Parent Trigger (aka, Parent Empowerment, Parent Rights, etc.) is being introduced in many states. This law enables 51% of the schools’ parents, feeder school parents, neighbors to literally shut down the school and turn it over to charters who prey upon them.
Educate the parents, teachers with this film.
Some PTAs may tell you they cannot show “political” films. Be sure you tell them that this is not a political film. This does not tell you who to vote for nor does it discuss political parties or candidates. It’s an educational film. (PTAs have a responsibility to educate PTA members regularly – so do School Adv Councils.)
This film satisfies their membership education requirement. It EDUCATES parents so they may make informed decisions on their children and their future.
Watched this yesterday. It is wonderful!
FWIW:
“Julie Fisher Mead is a professor in the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis. Dr. Mead researches and writes about topics related to the legal aspects of education. Dr. Mead’s research centers on legal issues related to special education and legal issues raised by various forms of school choice.”
The dean is Julie Underwood.