I received a notice of a major conference of equity investors in the for-profit education industry.
It will be held on July 26 at a private club in New York City.
Tickets are $1,195 for the day.
The invitation to purchase a ticket came from the respected K-12 journal Education Week, which is a “media partner” for the event.
I think I am entitled to a discount because I am a subscriber.
I don’t want to go.
I don’t want to see the for-profit corporations taking over more schools.
I don’t like what is happening.
I wish the U.S. Department of Education and President Obama would speak out against the creeping–no, galloping–privatization of education.
The for-profit online “colleges” and “universities” recruit students in volume, collect the federal aid that comes with them, have high dropout rates, and low graduation rates.
Why are our top education leaders sitting back and letting this happen without a squawk.
I think we should all squawk.
This is crazy.
Diane
Diane Ravitch's blog 
It’s not just colleges and universities they are after! This is from the Web site:
“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.”
I wonder if these investors are looking at K-12 private schools. Not much (public) money there – yet.
One of the reasons I have let my subscription to Ed Week lapse.
All public school educators should end their subscription to Ed. Week in protest.
DOE, AFT,are among those listed as ‘past attendees’. Soros Fund Management too. BIG money.
What’s going on with EdWeek? I got a copy of their new publication “Industry and Innovation” and it’s all about reform and “educational entrepreneurship”
Their web site is disgusting! http://capitalroundtable.com/masterclass/For-Profit-Education-Private-Equity-Conference-2012.html
Nowhere does it say anything about how these people can help American students learn better. Nowhere does it talk about adding value to kids. It’s not about the kids at all; it’s about how these companies can make money.
“Education is now the second largest market in the U.S., valued at $1.3 trillion.” Sigh – education is a market.
“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.” Thanks Arne.
“20 Education Specialists Cover The Deals And The Developments” Education specialists? Did any of them ever teach in a school? Did any of them ever serve in a school as an administrator?
“How are private equity firms adding value to their education portfolio companies?” Why was it I always thought it was about the kids?
One irony is, if spending on public education was drastically reduced, these vultures would go after some other market.
If K-12 turns into anything similar to what these for-profit colleges are, then we’re definitely doomed. There are a lot of random pop-up schools out there in addition to well-known Devry and ITT who advertise almost exclusively to the poor and only leave this people with mountains of debt.
Here is an investigative report on Pearson’s lobbying activities in Florida.
here is a Forbes article a bit old but it discusses the concerns in NYC. http://www.forbes.com
12/22/2011
No Educator Left Behind: Pearson, Leading Scorer of Standardized Tests, Subpoenaed
http://www.texasobserver.org/cover-story/the-pearson-graduate
Education Inc.
How private companies are profiting from Texas public schools.
by Abby Rapoport
Published on: Tuesday, September 06, 2011
This is disturbing. And scary. But I completely understand why you don’t want to go. I attended a panel discussion yesterday that I didn’t want to attend, (but I did want to attend). I knew the panelists were representatives of the business lobby that passed all our “reform” here in Louisiana, and I knew I would misbehave. Interesting thing happened – most of the rest of audience misbehaved right along with me!
Good for you! I think that is called civil disobedience? 🙂 Which is why many of “them” don’t want our students taught to THINK!
Hmm – I wonder how good the reformers and the business lobby are at “classroom management!”
Everybody deserves to misbehave sometimes. Glad you had company!
We need to find out where in NYC (it says private club) the capital round table master class is being held, so we can protest outside?
The audio package is $495.00. Wish I had it, Sun Tzu in the Art of War advised knowing everything about your enemy.
Maybe we could have a cyber bake sale?
Michele, what you posted from their website is galling. Not to mention, they’ve somehow managed to delude themselves into thinking their offering “high-quality products and services.” Well, actually, what’s worse is how many governors and legislatures are buying that spiel.