A small group of billionaires has decided to change public education in Los Angeles. They want half the students in the districts enrolled in privately managed charter schools. This is an astonishing development. Who elected them to privatize large sectors of public education? This is a test of our democracy. Have the 1% gained control of our democratic institutions, to reshape as they wish?
Two important meetings are coming up soon. Please try to attend the “Get the Crooks Out of Public Education” press conference on August 17:
Repeal Charters Meeting And Action In CA
8/16 LA Organizing Meeting Of Repeal Charter Schools Laws In CA
Sunday August 16, 2015 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Coco’s Bakery Restaurant (meeting room) ( Please purchase food)
18521 Devonshire Street
Northridge, CA 91324
Please Register If You Will Be Attending-For Information and registration contact (415)867-0628
8/17Press Conference/Speak Out At Broad Foundation
Stop Destroying Public Education-Repeal California School Charter Laws
Get The Crooks Out Of Public Education
Broad Foundation
2121 Avenue of The Stars, Los Angeles
Monday August 17, 2015 12:00 noon
The Broad Foundation has just announced that it wants to double the number of public funded privately run charters in Los Angeles. This foundation has played a central role in pushing charters and privatization in the US and it has trained people like former LAUSD Superintendent Deasy who have been involved in systemic corruption. This “foundation” has placed not only management in public schools throughout the country but also has placed pro-charter and privatization supporters on public boards and agencies throughout the country. There is a sordid record of financial conflicts of interests and the concerted effort by Broad, Gates Foundation, Bechtel Foundation, Walton/Walmart, KIPP GAP, Pearson Inc, and a myriad of other profiteers to transform our public education system into a profit making scam operation that not only steals from the public but ends up re-segregating education in Los Angeles and the United States.
This press conference speak out will have teachers and supporters of public education speak out about specific violation of the education code, systemic corruption and the need not only to support the repeal of charters in California but for investigation and prosecution of the criminals involved in the massive privatization scam now going on in California and nationally.
This press conference is sponsored by
Voices Against Privatizing Public Education
Ballot Initiative to REPEAL the CA Charter School Act of 1992
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/repeal-charter-school-act-of-1992-in-ca-ballot
https://www.facebook.com/CitizensForEducationRestoration
https://notocharterschools.wordpress.com
Click to access defend-public-ed-statement.pdf
For information (415)282-1908
Diane Ravitch's blog 
OK
I signed the petition.
Isn’t California run by the Democratic Party?
Doesn’t CTA heavily support the Democratic Party?
Why do we need a Citizens Initiative to go around our Democratic Assembly-persons and Senators.
Where’s CTA?
Then the courts will over turn the initiative……
Wake up America!
the 1% understand Thomas Hobbes (and Machiavelli & Alinsky) and most of the 99% have no idea what John Locke & Rosseau were talking about.
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California is proof that the devastation of public education is not party specific. Proponents of the best education for all need to direct attention to our so-called support–Democratic party and unions. I’m a teacher in California and have witnessed this betrayal for years. It shouldn’t surprise us, but it does explain the wildfire of privatization and submission to federal control.
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Diane, here in Washington State, by some miracle, we have a Charter Commission that is VERY tough. Not much has slipped by them and, despite the fact that they can approve up to 8 charters a year, they haven’t.
One big issue, however, is that our law has a heavy lift. This has somewhat backfired on the idea of having “home-grown” charters and, instead, we are getting Summit, Excel, and Green Dot. Just this week, I warned the Commission that many out-of-state charters have big financial firepower behind them like the Gates Foundation (based in Seattle). It makes it much easier for charters to come in when they have that kind of backing (just as it does in California with the Broad Foundation).
One interesting thing to come out of this week’s meeting to approve/reject two charters is that Summit charter org got challenged on whether their WA Board is big enough to cover 3 schools with hundreds of students (they have just 3 members) AND if there is a conflict because the California headquartered board has final ruling over all the schools (both in CA and WA).
The WA State Charter Commission repeatedly asked Summit officials about this and Summit tried to jargon their way out of the question. The Commission wasn’t pressed on. In the end, the Commission DID approve Summit’s newest charter BUT warned them that under WA state law, they agreed to follow that law and cannot have major decisions overturned by their California Board.
They seemed a bit stunned by the determination of the Commission but they did get their approval.
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And here is what happens with privatization: no real consequences for ANYTHING until something this awful happens.
Here is one of the biggest, most influential agricultural companies in Central Valley area of California wanting to create charter chains “to help the migrant farming community”, and this is the reality behind their politics of hiring:
http://www.kerngoldenempire.com/news/grimmway-academy-dean-charged-with-uploading-child-porn
http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/School-employee-accused-in-child-porn-investigation-323024331.html
Surprised they haven’t bought the local news off to alter the story as “former” employee. Yet.
There is no oversight for these corporate charters. Only God or this blog can bring them down and it seems this is the beginning.
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