Since 2001, Philadelphia’s public schools have been controlled by a “School Reform Commission” that has failed again and again to improve public education.
In this article, parent leaders call for a new vision for public schools.
They write:
“Over a year ago, we launched the Our City Our Schools campaign to end the 16-year-long failed experiment of the state-controlled School Reform Commission (SRC). The SRC was set up in 2001 in a supposed attempt to bring in more state funding, but instead led to dozens of school closures in black and brown neighborhoods, increased school privatization, failed for-profit consultants like Edison, and an austerity budget that has hurt students, parents, school staff, educators, and the city at large..
“Regaining local control is a huge step forward on the path toward true, democratically based community control of our schools.
“While we celebrate the mayor’s leadership, the question of how our schools will be governed is critical. For the last six months, Our City Our Schools and supporters have pushed for a transitional task force that could study successful school governance models and gather broad public input on what comes next — from an elected school board like those in the other 499 districts in Pennsylvania to the mayoral-controlled board of Philadelphia’s past…
“We can return a voice to the people who know our schools best. In ending the 16-year state takeover, we can define who are the true stakeholders of the Philadelphia schools. For too long, our schools have been treated like a business where decisions are made by people seeking to profit off of our children’s education. In this new era, we need to return power to the people who work, teach, and learn in neighborhood and charter schools every day, the parents who volunteer to fill budget gaps, and the community members who have supported their neighborhood schools for decades.
“We can end the era of conflicts of interests. The most important focus for any school board should be the thriving health of students, teachers, staff, and their schools. With local control and accountability, we can vet new board members for conflicts of interest and end backroom deals.
“Our next school board must push forward a progressive agenda for our schools. Our next school board must see quality education from locally based schools as a key racial and economic justice issue of our time. The SRC failed to stand up against a state legislature that continues to use our schools for its racist and privatizing agenda. Is the next school board ready to lead the fight for more equitable school funding across the state, for Philadelphia-based corporations and developers to pay their fair share toward our schools, and for an end to massive giveaways to private school managers?”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Cross-posted at https://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/Philadelphia-The-End-of-a-in-General_News-Control-Fraud_Diane-Ravitch_Education_Education-For-All-171030-164.html#comment677802
with these comments (which have embedded links a the above address)
Everyday, as I read the Diane Ravitch’s blog I read about the fraud being perpetrated by those who are busy churning profits from our taxes which supports public education FOR ALL. This week , there were these:
The founder of a group of prominent charter schools admitted to stealing millions of dollars and lying to the FBI. http://krqe.com/2017/10/25/former-charter-school-administrator-pleads-guilty-to-embezzling-millions/
*This article is about a Dark Money passing through called Stand for Children– which began its life as a pro-public school group but turned into a pro-Privatization, anti-union, anti-teacher organization. It highlights the role of Stand for Children in Massachusetts. It does not explore its national activities, where it plays a pernicious part in the attack on public schools, unions, and teachers. http://blogs.wgbh.org/masspoliticsprofs/2017/10/6/your-dark-money-reader-special-edition-stand-children/
Michigan: State Senate Steals Money from Public Schools and Gives It to State’s Failing Charter Industry* Charter Abuses in Ohio Are Proliferating this post, describes some of the most flagrant abuses, several of which involve real estate and exorbitant rentals and leases that allow the charter company to pocket taxpayers’ dollars. I.e. “The Columbus Primary Academy, part of the Imagine Schools charter chain, is saddled with a lease that requires exorbitant rent to Imagine’s for-profit real estate subsidiary. In two other states, federal courts deemed the leases “self-dealing” and ordered Imagine to pay $1 million fines.” http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2017/10/18/charter-schools-millage-money-michigan/776337001/
ARTHUR CAMINS explains the fraud of school choice, the same wolf in sheep’s clothing. http://blogs.wgbh.org/masspoliticsprofs/2017/10/6/your-dark-money-reader-special-edition-stand-children/
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I am a product of the Philadelphia Public Schools. I don’t recall ever knowing about a school board election, probably because there never was one. All we ever knew was that the schools were run from the Board of Education Building on the Parkway. I do hope the people can put a democratically elected, transparent board in place as the result of a public election. The board members should have to represent different city neighborhoods, and those running for a seat should have to live in the area they represent. Only those that live in a particular neighborhood should be able to donate to their local election. There should be a rule against outside money stocking the pond, which is often the case with groups like ALEC or various foundations representing hedge funds. It is the only way to conduct a legitimate election that represents the actual interests of those in the district.
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Of course it is essential for state and federal government to assure fairness and equity for all in our school systems. However, the actually implementation of the system and philosophy of our schools must be in the hands of teachers and parents with input from students. This must be local because they are the only ones who understand the communities they live in.
It is extremely important when referencing parents, that a school board and parent committees are not, by themselves, the voice of THE parents. To assure all parents voices are heard, a constant surveying is of utmost importance. There is none better to do these surveys than the students. Teach them how to do a survey and have them survey their parents. Every parent is important and must be heard.
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Hey, sorry to go off topic, but I think it’s time for daily reminders. Has Ref Rodriguez resigned from the LA School Board yet?
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No, no and no again. He will stay on until he is convicted. Then he will stay on through his appeals. He will stay on the board until and unless he is jailed.
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He will stay on after he is jailed. Allow me to rephrase. Has Ref Rodriguez been forced off the LA School Board yet?
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Thanks for posting this, Diane. The SRC has given a blank check to privatizers and charterizers for 16 years. We have a chance at real self-governance now. Every other district in Pennsylvania has an elected school board. We are going to continue to fight to stop the disenfranchisement of the people of Philadelphia.
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I can’t think of any takeover that has produced a postive result on behalf of children or communities. In Michigan we have Detroit which was under state control with emergency managers coming and going for nearly 20 years. Eeach time when the EM left, things were worse. We the tax payers had to take on the debt and bail the system out of the financila disasters created by bean counters.
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