This is a very engaging video interview of Tom Ultican, an expert on corporate education reform, explaining the federal takeover of public schools via No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top. Ultican goes into detail about the corporate assault on public schools in the Dallas Independent School District. He names names, starting with the misguided superintendency of Mike Miles, a Broadie who managed to drive out large numbers of experienced teachers. He identifies the funders of corporate funders, both billionaires and the Dallas Chamber of Commerce.
He gives a concise analysis of the money behind the “portfolio model,” charters, and privatization in Texas and Dallas.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
We must show a strong vision of the future for public education. And then shout it from the mountain tops
Nice to hear and see Tom.
Yup, the main thing that standardized tests correlate to is poverty.
The Democrats wasted how many years and elections bubbling this one?
And, imagine a one question “exam” that tests if prospective school administrators know this fact…. (School “leaders”,ha, ha, ha)
Hmmm….
We’d spring the one question exam on them then say, how’s it feel?… Then, get to the real interview….
BTW love the dog barking in the background at around 11:11. Had to replay that part. “Engaging” is right.
Thanks for your work, Tom
In fact, a .9 correlation of standardized test scores to poverty means that the variables are extremely strongly related. The scores are simply an excuse to privatize schools with large numbers of poor, mostly minority students.
Yes, as I take it that’s Tom’s point exactly.
“The Democrats wasted how many years…” That line really hurts.
Remember this started with a Republican, George W. He thought he had performed some miracle in Texas, but we know otherwise.
Then the Democrats continued the road to insanity.
Aspen Institute credits Bill Clinton.
That wasn’t a dog barking.
That was a Deformer who, as you can well imagine, disagreed vehemently with what Tom was saying.
I could be mistaken, but if sounded like the bark of Bill Gates.
All bark and no bite.
Oh, he has bite, it’s $$.
I just finished viewing Tom’s video. It is EXCELLENT. I am forwarding it to others.
Thank you, Tom Ultican.
Thank you, Diane, for sharing the video.
This seems familiar… oh that’s right “I need you to do us a favor though…”
From SSIR-
“…Parents pay a portion or all of their children’s fees by gathering plastic or discarded drinking water bags.” That’s one of the latest schemes at a private school in Lagos, Nigeria.
If the school is Bridge International Academies, a Gates and Zuck investment, the business model’s anticipated ROI for investors is 20%.
I’m speculating that if scrounging for trash is the only way a person has to pay school fees, the money is probably needed for food and other necessities.
Melinda, a practicing Catholic.
After it’s too late, the Gates will recognize the problem is their own concentrated wealth.