Donna Brazile, Democratic Party strategist, laments the nation’s retreat from school integration in recent years.
Vouchers and charters are no substitute for integrated schools with equitable resources.
She cites the example of Milwaukee, which has had vouchers and charters since 1990.
Today, Milwaukee has low performance on national tests, and neither the voucher schools nor the charter schools outperform public schools.
She writes:
“Sixty years later, “separate and unequal” is still alive.
“To fix the problem, we must recognize the problem. First, privatizing our school systems results in increased segregation, not improved opportunities. Whether in New Orleans or Philadelphia or Detroit or New York, legislative schemes perpetuate separate and unequal by privatizing large swaths of public school districts — and in some cases, entire districts.
“Second, education doesn’t take place in a vacuum. Students and their families need access to health care, decent wages and affordable housing in integrated neighborhoods. Thus, Brown’s legacy includes economic improvements for children and families.
“Third, neither high-quality public schools nor economic improvements can occur when voters are disenfranchised. Only the right to vote protects access to education and movement toward economic improvement. Yet 34 states — most under Republican control — have passed laws to make it harder for minorities, the elderly, and young people to vote, including so-called voter ID laws and regulations that limit early voting.
“The economic and racial inequities that existed 60 years ago persist in our communities today. They must be addressed. In the spirit of Brown, students, parents and educators are demanding solutions that go beyond the dysfunctional “education reforms” and address a wide range of community concerns, from stopping school privatization to providing universal early childhood education to raising the minimum wage.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
The courts have given the answer. They are private schools who have contracted with the state to give students another option. I can now spend the old tuition money on a trip to Europe this summer with my husband and 3 children. This will be a great educational experience! Thank you tax payers and Obama!
In the United States of Plutocracy, is public education the last Democracy?
http://www.examiner.com/article/in-the-united-states-of-plutocracy-is-public-education-the-last-democracy?cid=db_articles
All very well said and it’s good to see these arguments penetrate the mainstream. We shouldn’t be too impressed, however, until she stops crafting campaign strategy for Dems who support nearly all of the reforms she criticizes here.
Reblogged this on Dolphin.
Part of the continued push for privatization from conservatives is nonsense like this from liberals. Voter ID is not an effort to suppress voting, as Donna Brazille claims, but a reasonable effort to prevent fraud. ALL of political life depends on the integrity of the vote.
When Democrats shoot themselves in the foot by taking positions like this, it reduces their credibility with conservatives, who conclude that statements such as hers are pure partisan politics designed to stir up the liberal party base, not honest attempts to collaborate to provide equitable resources for all kids.
Privatization is no solution for public services.
http://www.nationofchange.org/privatization-scam-five-government-outsourcing-horror-stories-1400594123
Here is some more privatization in education. Dayton, Ohio, plans to outsource hiring of sub’s to a private company. Subs won’t be part of STRS if they are paid through a private company based in Wisconsin.
http://m.daytondailynews.com/news/news/local/unionized-substitute-teachers-protest-dayton-schoo/nf4Wk/