Massachusetts Jobs with Justice released a well-documented report on the dark money behind a shadowy group called “Families for Excellent Schools.” FES is leading the campaign for more charter schools in Massachusetts. Of course, FES flies under a fake flag, because the “families” are not representing the families of Boston or the families that need excellent schools. FES is a gross deception. They are representing hedge fund managers and other wealthy individuals. Their idea of “excellent schools” is Exeter, Andover, Deerfield Academy, Groton, Sidwell Friends, and other elite schools that their own children attend. But these are not the excellent schools they want for the children of Massachusetts; they prefer no-excuses schools, where discipline and uniformity produces higher test scores. In the battle between Eva Moskowitz and Mayor de Blasio over the expansion of the charter sector, FES came up with nearly $10 million to beat the mayor. That’s not the kind of money that one gathers in needy communities, but it is the kind of money one collects with a few phone calls to Wall Street movers and shakers.
The JwJ report tears the veil away from FES, revealing where the money comes from. Up until now, it had pretended to be just another grassroots group working for “excellent” schools, and not a hedge fund-front group pushing privatization.
The report also revealed that one of the directors of FES is James Peyser, the Massachusetts State Superintendent of Education. This was another shocker. Why should the public official responsible for the maintenance and improvement of public schools serve on the board of an organization dedicated to privatizing public schools. Peyser holds the same position as Horace Mann. He should be embarrassed and the people of Massachusetts should be outraged.
Just bear in mind that the push for privatization is occurring in the state that is far and away the best performing state school system in the United States. The expansion of the charter sector will undermine public education and divide communities. FES should be ashamed. Why don’t they take their millions and open health clinics for poor children?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
James Peyser should be prosecuted for fraud.
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FES founder and spokesman Jeremiah Kittredge, mentioned prominently in the “Jobs with Justice” report, was featured in a great video called “Unknowable”, about charter school creaming, or cherry picking.
Here’s an old post:
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My favorite video about Eva was produced by the BAT’s (Bad Ass Teachers) Association… it’s called “Unknowable”, and has Eva and charter spokesperson Jeremiah Kittredge responding to allegations of cherry picking:
Here’s BATs’ description of the video:
“UNKNOWABLE?” Charter Schools’ Biggest Voices Unclear About Cherry Picking”
Eva Moskowitz asked whether her Charter schools admit the highest needs kids in NYC, she says she thinks the jury is still out, that, in all her travels, she doesn’t have the information to answer the question … the answer to that question is just “unknowable.”.
Just as tongue tied is Jeremiah Kittredge, top spokesman for a non-profit that is funded by the Waltons, Moskowitz’ husbands’ group, and hedge-funder backed PACs. Hear him twist up a word-pretzel when asked the same simple question: don’t the children whose parents apply to charters, and who have to be proactive to do so … don’t they bring major home support advantages, along with their kids?
To date, no one seems to have asked the teachers in the rooms with the highest-needs kids ever yday, but we’re still hopeful.
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My favorite part is when asked about how few special ed kids attend charters, Kittredge tries to change the focus to the public schools with the following condemnation:
(at 4:30)
(at 4:30)
KITTREDGE: “Over 50% of New York City public schools serve a less-than-average number of Special Ed. and ELL students.”
Well… uhh… yeah. That’s sort of the definition of “average.” That’s a totally nonsensical and meaningless statement, but said authoritatively by Kittredge, may fool people into thinking he actually made a convincing argument countering charter schools’ dismal record regarding special ed students.
Or the video’s initial Q & A that inspired the video’s title.
In this friendly interview—from Reason TV, a libertarian, anti-union org—the interviewer asks Eva about the selection process
(0:00 – )
(0:00 – )
INTERVIEWER: “Critics of charters argue that schools like SUCCESS ACADEMY are excelling in part because they serve kids that come from more stable homes, with more involved parents than their public school counterparts. Those parents that are willing to take the effort to enter their kids into a lottery, critics say, are more likely to have children who are motivated to get ahead.
“Is there a difference between the parents who decide to go into a lottery? So, you know 18,000 kids apply for your spaces… are the parents of those 18,000 kids somehow radically different than, ya know, the parents who either don’t care or don’t know about lottery schools?”
Eva’s response? Why the answer to that question is just “unknowable.” Eva dodges, then blathers about her outreach, then talks about how much parents love their students…. the question being asked of her now left behind in the dust of her obfuscations.
Actually, Eva, it’s quite “knowable”. It’s basic common sense, actually… that requiring multiple steps and applications for a parent to jump through will weed out those parents. That means such a process will self-select for a group of kids with parents will be more involved, and whose kids will be easier to educate, and produce your beloved higher test scores.
Eva then defends her “marketing”… … it’s benign and harmless… she just likes informing people about her schools, you know… not mentioning that SHE IS SPENDING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO POACH STUDENTS… that’s an amount of money that the increasingly de-funded public schools do not possess, and thus, cannot counter with their own multi-million-dollar marketing campaign.
To make this poaching happen, Eva is also using money from NYC citizens and taxpayers… some of whom do not want their public schools wiped out and replaced with Eva’s charters…and who object to the insanely unlevel playing field that this marketing enables in favor of Eva’s privatization of NYC schools.
One more thing: “1-in-9” NYC students are classified as “homeless”.
At Eva’s schools, what fraction are homeless?
Try “0-in-9.’
How did this happen?
Why that’s just “unknowable.”
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Would Peyser’s involvement with FEBS constitute a conflict of interest?
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On Beacon Hill?
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Conflict of interest is soooo 20th century. No one is prosecuted for that any longer.
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One if by scam.Two if by deceit
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MA is essentially a one-party state, with a public records law from the dark ages
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Historically and naturally, destruction or improvement comes from within each organization’s leader or commander and with the help of all either delusional or intelligent subordinates.
It is time to investigate by demanding DRUG TEST, and VERIFICATION OF BANKING ACCOUNT from all Senators, Governors, Mayors and State Superintendents who have been controlled by corporate money. Back2basic
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“The report also revealed that one of the directors of FES is James Peyser, the Massachusetts State Superintendent of Education. ”
That’s amazing. He lobbies the state on issues he then acts on. One would think there would be come kind of disclosure form or process that comes with the job. Did he disclose the conflict?
Basic ethical norms must only apply to the little people. The Best and the Brightest are just…better people, so anything they do is automatically above reproach.
It’s the arrogance that’ll get them in the end 🙂
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Talk about the snake eating its own tail…
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This is a pattern we see repeated in state after state. It is the unholy alliance of government and corporations. In this case, it is easier to call foul since they are one in the same, and it should be illegal. From Arne Duncan to Texas, corporate types or those aligned with the reform movement are being appointed to oversee education despite having no experience in public education. If the public accepts this, anti-public education forces will continue to dominate.
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They are a little slicker in California. They fund the California Teachers Association Institute for Teaching which pays the president, vice-president and secretary-treasurer $250,000 to 280,000 per year to sit on their board. CTA provides lukewarm opposition to charters. http://www.guidestar.org/organizations/26-3387057/cta-foundation-teaching-learning.aspx
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Wow Mike…didn’t know about this one. They seem not to have any names listed as leadership. Do you know who is the actual prez of the non profit, and who is on their board???
We in LA also have the new Great Schools Now, an adjuct source for Broad directives, since they are using his 50% takeover (by charterizing) of LAUSD. Eli is so universally hated that other local billionaires fronted for this new group that keeps his name off the letter head…and their board…but he is still the power behind the throne.
Isn’t it always great, Mike, to know that our state is the leader in destroying public ed and decimating teachers??? Good luck to kids in Mass. with their own dark money and greed meister hedge funders.
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Families for Excellent Schools registered as a lobbyist in Massachusetts:
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/LobbyistPublicSearch/Summary.aspx?PeriodId=2015&RefId=13704
“The report also revealed that one of the directors of FES is James Peyser, the Massachusetts State Superintendent of Education.”
So he lobbies the state while working for the state?
Wow. Ed reform really IS innovative! A “traditionalist” might look at that and say “how can that be legal, let alone ethical?” Obviously these folks are so far superior to mere mortals the rules don’t apply 🙂
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In Ohio, registered lobbyists must identify their activities to influence state lawmakers. Apparently in Mass., the middleman’s been cut out.
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Bot the former Obama ed team who go thru the revolving door really let the privatization flag fly when they’re no longer “public servants”
Check out Edpost. It’s basically 100% “public schools suck! charter schools rock!”
The Obama Administration was actively hostile to public schools and you see how that came to be when you read the former Obama ed people “in the private sector”. They no longer have to pretend they value public schools.
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The money in charterization is too good and this expenditure of public funds is unaccountable. In effect, free money with no strings. Best Ponzi scheme for the rich and the caveat, unlimited public funds. That superintendent of public instruction should be fired. Period.
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And though Jobs with Justice has just posted the current report, this conflict of interest is not new with Peyser. It goes back to Romney’s stint as governor. These folks play the long game: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/02/22/opponents_eye_conflict_of_interest_in_upcoming_vote_on_charter_plans/?page=full
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Families for Excellent Schools had a representative and about 5 moms testify at the public hearing on PARCC v. MCAS v. MCAS 2.0. They all spoke in favor of keeping PARCC and the moms, of which 3 needed interpreters, all said that PARCC would make their children “college and career ready”. In their own words, of course. BUT did not know that Peyser was on the Board. This is huge and outrageous!!!!!!
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Officials on the public dole not supporting the public. They should be looking at the disbanding the whole Department. They have the head of the state education board, Mitchell Chester, that’s on the Pearson payroll and even causing Pearson to pay a huge fine for a trip that he and his fellow supervisors took on their dime.
DESE should be also be investigated for producing fraudulent certifications, for their friends in the DYS initiative. There they hired the Commonwealth Corporation, who in turn hired another company to administer their contract creating about three levels on administrators. The Commonwealth Corporation gets its support from the Boston Foundation which has about four paid lobbyist in the state of Massachusetts, making well over 100,000. Boston Foundation’s top lobbyist Paul Grogan has come out for charter school. Why would you think this public employees would support the public?
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Names like “Get Smart”, ” Alliance for School Choice”, ” EdReform”, “Gen DIY” all imply positive desires and outcomes for students and young people. However the truth is in the corporate and power-hungry money behind these outcomes. Privatizing education, controlling legislature to move public money into private companies, pushing students NOT to receive college education in order to become young “entrepreneurs” and general push away from supporting teachers in general.
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“Pioneer Privateer”
Peyser is a Pioneer
In ethics indiscretions
The FES is privateer
And Peyser gives directions
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Poet – May I tweet your poem?
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Certainly!
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Done. Thanks!
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There’s no profit in opening health clinics for poor children.
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My thoughts exactly! This is because, unlike charter schools, health clinics, for children living in poverty, do not have an almost inexhaustible amount of taxpayer-driven money to replenish the coffers each fiscal year.
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Here’s what Edushyster said over a year ago:
to say that Jim [Peyser] is a charter guy would be an understatement of the most understated kind.
Of course one man does not a mandate make. Which is why we are leaving, for now, the clubby circles of elite politics and venturing down to the grass roots, from which this bold call for New Schools™ is emanating. Families for Excellent Schools—anyone home?”
Then again, perhaps one man does a mandate make… if he is Secretary of Education ..and sits on the grassroots.
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Just to be clear, the last sentence is mine: “Then again, perhaps one man does a mandate make… if he is Secretary of Education ..and sits on the grassroots.”
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Charters are separate and unequal.
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Unbelievably shameful. Thanks to Jobs with Justice for exposing these hypocrites (I’m referring to you, James Peyser) and charlatans.
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Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Education.
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This is how you handle those SUCCESS ACADEMY (or other charter school) recruiters.
A couple years back, Eva’s winged monkey recruiters had been lurking outside traditional public schools in a more upscale New York City neighborhood where Eva was about to open a school, accosting parents with a sales pitch to ditch their public school for one of Eva’s test prep factories.
Unlike the uninformed lower income immigrant community folks and were dkuped, these folks knew what these recruiters were all about.
The parents and teachers then got in the face of one of them, with the confrontation captured on video: (is he wearing one of Success Academy’s L.L. Bean’s backpacks?)
I’m urging parent leaders Karen Wolfe and Adam Benitez, and teacher union leaders to like UTLA President Alex C-P
to play this video to every parent and teacher, respectively
that each of them can get to watch it.
The Broad Plan will unleash hundreds of these
paid recruiters to accost parent and student at
our traditional public schools., in an effort to
poach the students attending public schools.
Get lost, you money-motivated charter shills!!!!
One of the teachers / parents here was Jamie Fidler, a nationally
renown teacher who came into prominence in the documentary
AMERICAN TEACHER (a mixed bag of a film, but that’s
another story).
They kept protesting, and Eva’s winged monkeys were
never seen again.
HAPPY ENDING
… or better yet, here’s some video confronting Parent Revolution organizers outside Weigand Elementary, in South Los Angeles:
and here:
When things calmed down, here’s an account from two parents: (Sorry, it’s in Spanish… )
And from one teacher, LAUSD’s Ingrid Villeda: (again, it’s in Spanish … I believe the words in the title are “lying” and “violence”):
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Diane, a brief correction: Peyser is Secretary of Education for Massachusetts.
(And to some of the above: note that this makes him part of the Executive branch; he was appointed by our Republican governor.)
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Tracy,
Peyser holds same job as Horace Mann!
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