Jersey Jazzman describes the web of political and financial connections that are working together to bring for-profit virtual charter schools to the Garden State.
This is a must-read.
The more I learn about the profits and the political shenanigans that facility profiteering, the more it astonishes me.
If the American people ever figure out that their elected officials are giving away the authority to make money off educating kids and bankrupting public schools at the same time, the reform movement will be exposed for what it is: the privatization movement.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Thank you Diane, for covering the amazing work of our Mother Crusader, our Jersey Jazzman and our State’s foray into the world of corrupt virtual charter schools. I wish this was a virtual reality but it is what we are stuck with fighting everyday….it helps to have you raising awareness!,
There needs to be a consistent way of reporting the Top 5 (10?) Earners AND Contributors for ALL Not-For-Profits, OR, any organization doing business with the community.
The reporting format should be consistent so that it is easy to compare apples to apples.
oh well.
A seattle blog
http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/
has several outstanding diaries about all these links in the Great State of Wishy – Warshy, Pacified Northwest, where the A$tro Turf legions of Bill Gate$ just don’t stop – LEV, SFC, A+Washington, PFL, CRPE, NCTQ, DFER, TU … are the acronyms for some of the parasites vexing us out here, bought and paid for by Gate$.
R. Murphy
Seattle High School Math teacher for 6 years.
Diane, thanks for the awesome work you do. I am constantly reading your blog posts….they are sooo informative.
Check out the new article by Chris Cerf on charter schools. He asserts that charter schools are not being used to privatize education but rather enhance. It’s interesting:
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0715/1856/
Diane,
I especially like the last paragraph of this post, “If the American people…..” I ponder that often and wonder what the breaking point will be.
WHY IS THIS NOT OUT THERE AS A TOPIC TO BE DISCUSSED? I HAVE NOT HEARD ONE POLITICIAN BRING IT UP, YET IT IS HAPPENING ALL AROUND US. (Check out the parking meters in Chicago!) THE DEMS ARE JUST AS EAGER TO PRIVATIZE AS THE GOP.
Hi Diane, I appreciate your effort to reform the “education titanic” (the traditional public school system), but I would suggest that you take a good look at the traditional public school board, specifically the smaller districts, in this nation, rather than blaming the charter school movement. Charter schools have succeeded with little funding in areas where the district big spender public schools failed. If we really want to reform the education system, we must start with the school board by allowing candidates from other cities, outside the geographical area of the school districts, to run for a seat on the school board. We must also educate the public about the importance of the duties of the elected school board members. I know a school district that will not allow any charter school to operate in the district, yet the entire district is on a program improvement (PI) status. Diane, I also believe that informing your readers that charter schools are public schools that educate students free of charge will enhance their knowledge of charter school operation.
I suggest you read Phillip Schlechty’s book Leading for Learning, where he explains the relationship between schools and communities. A basic idea called democracy. Please read my previous posts about charter schools where I have responded to your specific points about charter schools. I am not persuaded that they are public schools. Some may be, many are not. When they siphon off the top students and compete aggressively, they are not public schools. When they operate for profit, they are definitely not public schools. In the city where I live (NYC), charters are better funded than public schools. No, I don’t think it is right to allow people from other districts to run for school board. That’s colonialism. Would you want someone who lived in another town to serve on your local school board. Is there no one in your town who is interested or competent?
PhD. Okay, John, we now know you’re edumacated. Notice that Diane doesn’t feel a need to put those letters behind her name. Learn from her!
This is a public forum for intellectual discourse, so what is your point? Please make comment that will advance understanding on the issue. Thanks for your participation. John O. Alizor, PhD