Possibly in response to the Detroit Free Press’s expose of charter schools’ lack of transparency and accountability, a majority in most recent poll (73%) want a moratorium on new charter schools until the Legislature and the State Department of Education has reviewed charter legislation.
Having learned from the 8-day series of articles that charters get $1 billion without oversight, the public might want some regulation of how their dollars are spent.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
“State law does not prevent insider deals and self-enrichment by those who operate schools.”
Hard to believe.
“In its investigation, the Free Press found most of those firms circumvent transparency requirements about reporting employee pay by saying teachers and other school employees don’t work for the school, but rather for the private company, which is exempt from disclosure requirements. The state has never challenged that assertion even though these employees are paid by taxpayer dollars.”
Well, they may be doing that to circumvent state law, but they’re also doing it because they don’t want the legal duties that come with having actual “employees”.
That way they can dodge responsibility and accountability if the staffing contractor doesn’t comply with worker protection laws and regs. Ohio lawmakers tried this amazing gambit where they tried to set up a situation where teachers in STEM charters would be “independent contractors”, which is really the ultimate employer dodge. It failed the last time they brought it forward but I’m sure it will be back.
Governor Snyder isn’t listening. Yesterday he was promoting the privatized schools on Labor Day. Maybe voters will boot him on education issues. Good riddance.
I think it’s a safe bet that the public, no matter how many are against the privatization of public education, will be ignored by the fake education reformers and their billionaire masters.
The only way to stop this rape of the public schools is to elect a pro-public education, pro-labor union President to the White House who believes in fair play and honesty—-is that possible and who would it be?
Of course, that won’t work unless a majority in congress agree—and are willing to act—with the new president, and that is probably even more impossible in today’s political climate.
I am always amazed how the political climate and what is possible changes when someone actually addresses the reality everyone knows exists. I supported Clinton over Obama in 08 but would dump her in a millisecond over Bernie sanders or Elizabeth warren.
If Elizabeth Warren ran for President, would she ever reach the actual national election where the 500 plus—hand picked by the two major political parties on a state-by-state basis—members of the Electoral College select the president?
I think the billionaires club would pour more money into the parties primaries to defeat her than they have ever spent before. The odds would probably be against her making it to the election as a viable candidate. Imagine the “crap” that people like Limbaugh and Beck would be shoveling to the public.
Conservative talk radio and TV in addition to FOX news would make her look like the anti-Christ and some nut case—as intended by the elements of the far right—would pull another Gabrielle Giffords.
Hope that Michigan “got religion” but will not hold my breath until it happens.
“One Tough Nerd” seems to broker lousy deals on behalf of the people of Michigan. I thought they hired him for his business expertise?
Maybe he should pretend this is his personal “portfolio” rather than schools for other people. Why does he get so brutally ripped off in these contracts? Can they hire a competent negotiator, at least, if they’re selling off the state? Surely they can get a better price for public assets than – 1 billion.