Bill Raden of Capital & Main, a California-based political journal, interviewed me about the baleful effects of disruption (aka “reform”) on children, communities, schools and education. 

He asks about the source of the money behind disruption and about what California needs to do to rein in its reckless and feckless charter industry.  Naturally I thought about the billionaires and hedge fund managers who have used their money to disrupt education and to fund politicians who share their goals or want their campaign contributions.

He also asks about my hopes for the future, which is embedded in my critique of the status quo. I answer, take the profit out of the charter industry. Make local school districts the sole authorizer of charter schools. Require that charters collaborate—not compete—with public schools.

It would be a joyous day indeed if and when the vast resources of the charter industry were devoted to helping children, families, communities, and public schools rather than disrupting them.

At the end of the book, I propose a path forward to turn the  Disruptors into reformers. It begins with the recommendation that they lobby to pay higher taxes to support a higher minimum wage and greater investment in schools and social services.

By the way, if you want to know my specific recommendations for reform, read “Reign of Error,” which contains detailed, research-based actions that the billionaires and hedge fund managers could adopt if they really want to help children.