Based on the failure of the Achievement School District in Tennessee and the phony Recovery School District in Néw Orleans, the Texas senate approved legislation to create a state takeover district of low-performing schools.
Not sure if this is a hoax or a fraud, but there is no evidence that such districts make any difference, although they are typically profitable for charter chains.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
“. . . although they are typically profitable for charter chains.”
That’s the objective.
And then take some of that profit and put it into the politician’s coffers. Why it’s a win/win situation for both.
And lose/lose for both public school students and teachers
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Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Texas Education.
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I documented so many details from the 2007 takeover in St. Louis, that it could literally fill a book….Normandy is actually a sadder story. Promise by state board to wait three years after making them combine with the only district in the state that ranked lower than they did…..took away accreditation after two years. The district went bankrupt due to a transfer law that kicked in…..after the state took over, the commissioner tried to invent a special state accreditation rating to stop the transfer law, (the state did not mind the flow of money out for transfers as a mechanism to bankrupt the district, but they tried to change the rules, once they took over—it was ruled unconstitutional—the republicans remain ready to repeal the law if…and only if….they get the package of charters and vouchers and other goodies they have dreamed of in exchange for stop being stupid. Missourians are staying tuned this week. (by the way….commissioner quit for reasons reported to the media which never asks questions.)
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If you understand the agenda driving these take over districts then you will understand why they continue to grow. And let me tell you these schemes are heavily funded by special interest groups that have their own special interests at play not our or our children’s best interests. I am from TN and have been blowing the whistle for a long time about Chris Barbic (even today most legislators and voters don’t even know who he is) and the ASD. But because the agenda has nothing to do with improving education and everything to do with privatizing education they don’t care what the data shows. Georgia will probably be next. Students First is lobbying hard to get ASD in GA. I spoke up at a recent meeting in GA where a spokesman from SF was there trying to convince people how great ASD was going to be and I stood up and exposed his lies. I was respectful and prepared with facts. But I have no doubt the $$$$$ that SF throws around will mean more than the truth I shared.
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Why would anyone want to replicate stupid? Before they jump at change, they should study the results of New Orleans. The hidden agenda to rush to judgment is to make money for a few while they grind democracy into the ground.
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Texas is trying to do just that. There is lots of data on schools that used letter grades for each school and the failure of the program.
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In Missouri, and I would imagine many other states, “stupid” is considered a valuable bargaining chip.
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Arab proverb: Once the camel has his nose under, inside the tent, the tent is doomed.
Seems to fit here.
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Texas is best viewed through the rear view mirror as you head Northeast: looking fwd to that view:( I tried here for six years. Can’t deal with the dysfunction any more.
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Texas might want to look at a recent study that shows college readiness declining when a school focuses on test prep. See link below:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/05/150512140852.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fscience_society%2Fstem_education+%28STEM+Education+News+–+ScienceDaily%29
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