A group called EdVoice filed a lawsuit to compel the teachers of Los Angeles to comply with 40-year-old legislation (the Stull Act), requiring that student performance be part of teacher evaluation. The Los Angeles teachers’ union has opposed the suit, and they are currently in litigation.
The issues are supposed to be resolved in December. There are many ways to demonstrate pupil performance, not just standardized test scores.
There are so many of these “reform” groups that it is hard to keep track of them.
What and who is EdVoice?
Here is an answer from Sharon Higgins, an Oakland parent activist who is a relentless researcher, and who maintains two websites, one called “charterschoolscandals,” the other called “The Broad Report.” Higgins is an example of the power of one voice, devoted to facts:
Here are a few more specifics about EdVoice, the education lobbying group.
EdVoice was founded in 2001 by Reed Hastings (CEO of Netflix, Microsoft board member, Green Dot founding funder) and John Doerr (venture capitalist, investment banker), along with and former CA state Assembly members Ted Lempert and Steve Poizner. Eli Broad and Don Fisher (deceased CEO of The Gap and major KIPP supporter) once served on EdVoice’s board.
EdVoice has received a ton of money from all of the above as well as from Carrie Walton Penner and Fisher’s widow, Doris. Penner lives in the Bay Area and is a Walton Family Foundation trustee. She also sits on KIPP’s board, as does Reed Hastings, and the Fishers’ son, John.
Back in 1998, Hastings also co-founded Californians for Public School Excellence with Don Shalvey. This is the organization that pushed for the Charter Schools Act of 1998, the law that lifted the cap on the number of charter schools in the state.
Don Shalvey was involved with starting the first charter school in California, just after the passage of the California Charter School Act of 1992 (CA was the second state to pass a law). He is also founder and former CEO of Aspire Public Schools. Reed Hastings has been a major source of Aspire’s financial backing, including its launch. In 2009, Shalvey stepped down from his post at Aspire and went to work for the Gates Foundation, but for a while he stayed on Aspire’s board. The Gates Foundation has given generously to Aspire.
In 2011, Hastings and Doerr pumped $11M into DreamBox Learning, an online education company started by a former Microsoft executive and the CEO of a software company. It was acquired by Hastings with help from the Charter School Growth Fund.
BTW, EdVoice co-founder Lempert is currently president of an Oakland-based org called Children Now; he occasionally teaches at Cal. Poizner, a conservative Republican and wealthy Silicon Valley high tech entrepreneur, was defeated by Meg Whitman in the June 2010 gubernatorial primary, and is now the State Insurance Commissioner. For several years he worked for Boston Consulting Group as a management consultant.
More conniving fun and games.
On a local level here in CT we have Excel Bridgeport. This piece exposes the connections. Here is the opening and read the full piece:
Removing the mask from Bridgeport education reformers
There is always more than meets the eye, particularly when a mask camouflages a hidden agenda.
Excel Bridgeport, a new education reform group, describes itself in flattering terms on its website. It announces:
“1. We want every child in Bridgeport to have the opportunity for a world class education;
2. We build knowledge in our community;
3. We empower community members to be leaders;
4. We partner with the district and hold them accountable.”
Who can disagree with the noble and laudable activity of empowering parents, building knowledge and accountability?
However, a look behind the mask reveals a different and disturbing reality.
http://www.ctpost.com/opinion/article/Removing-the-mask-from-Bridgeport-education-3717349.php#ixzz21N9ZjuIp
It is always good to know who these people are and their businesses. This way I know which businesses to boycot. I live and teach on Long Island where our local newspaper, Newsday, is in the business of teacher bashing. I have repeatedly said, if all Long Island teachers, and their families, boycotted this paper, Newsday would definitely feel the pinch. We have to stand up for ourselves not just with our voice, but our money.
Yes, I recently closed my account with Webster bank after twenty years. They employ an executive who regularly posts demeaning comments about public schools and their teachers. His wife runs a charter chain and, of course, the only good schools are charter schools, especially Achievement First. I no longer do business with
Webster bank.
Seems the habit of creating “shell corporations” as holding companies for controlling a certain industry’s production has made its way to the ed reform/privatization world. Not a good sign, but surely not unexpected.
And NEVER buy anything from Overstock.com. Patrick Byrne, the CEO, does everything in his power to privatize schools. He donated most of the money to support vouchers in Utah. I can’t even watch the commercials for that outfit.
Thanks. I never have and I now never will. We need to start a new post of who to boycott. The list would be endless.
Poisner is no longer State Insurance Commissioner. That office is held by Sacramento Democrat Dave Jones.
Other politicians with present and past connections to EdVoice include Gary Davis, Elk Grove, CA city council member and Christopher Cabaldon, mayor of West Sacramento. Calbaldon no longer works for EdVoice. He now is affiliated with Capitol Impact of Sacramento, a public policy consulting firm, along with Sacramento city council member Jay Schenirer. As a school board member Schenirer voted to close Sacramento High School and give it to Kevin Johnson to run as a charter school.
Progressive Dave Jones ( and all around good guy) is currently the insurance commissioner – not Poizner.
Fantastic information. I just love all the education investigators scattered throughout the country. Every little bit helps us understand and prepare for what a locality may face, some sooner. Others a bit later. The information allows for planning proactive strategies.
Thanks for this information. It’s so difficult to find all the players involved. This is a tremendous article. It brings true transparency. Something rarely found in the media. P.S. You gotta know we’re gonna attack CNN, right? Imagine mainstream broadcasters providing the transparency of the players behind the games as you continue to do. Fat chance.
This is good information. Teacher dollars vote too, not just those raptor philanthropy dollars spent to pry future profits from school budgets. Teachers and school staffers nationwide need to know the corporate players working against public schools and boycott those involved. Spend your dollars with businesses that are neutral or truly supportive of public schools – the real thing, not corporate charter schools.
Diane:
We need a Who are the Players in “EdReform?” blog (?) to record all these people that have started tearing down public education.