Why Thousands Are Demonstrating at US Schools

Rallies are expected at about 900 schools today...
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/02/thousands-students-parents-teachers-rallies-urban-districts-demand-funding

Jeb Boasts He Helped 80,000 Kids Go To Christian Schools So They Could Be Told 'Jesus Loves You'

Watch as Jeb Bush says he took on "powerful interests" so Florida school children could transfer into private religious schools – and he can do that for the rest of America...
http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/jeb_boasts_he_helped_80_000_kids_go_to_christian_schools_so_they_could_be_told_jesus_loves_you

Scathing Study: La. Voucher Students Were Better Off In Public Schools

There is now solid evidence that vouchers do not improve student academic performance and are a bailout for academically weak sectarian schools. It is long past time to end the Louisiana Scholarship Program and this should be the nail in its coffin...
https://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/scathing-study-la-voucher-students-were-better-off-in-public-schools

Charter School Insiders Now Admit Public Education Can't Be Remade In Wall St.'s Image

A new smokescreen to shield 'non-profit' charters.
http://www.alternet.org/education/charter-school-insiders-now-admit-public-education-cant-be-remade-wall-sts-image

Charter School Network Accused Of Discriminating Against Disabled Students

The group of parents who filed the complaint say that the school’s strict rules pushed some of them to withdraw their children, and cite 13 students with disabilities whom they claim were over-disciplined there...
http://thinkprogress.org/education/2016/01/25/3742316/charter-school-disability-complaint/

Action Alert: Tell Your Legislators to Keep Federal Money out of Religious Schools

This week marks National School Choice Week, when proponents of private school vouchers urge lawmakers to divert government funds away from public schools. Please take a moment and write to your legislators urging them to commit to keeping federal dollars out of private religious schools this year.

Last year, we successfully defeated a proposed amendment to the Every Child Succeeds Act that would have diverted billions to private schools, the vast majority of which are religiously affiliated. Despite our success, we are remaining vigilant and fighting back attempts in Congress to make these vouchers a reality this year.

Public funds should be used to support schools that serve all children, not just a select few. Religious schools are not held to the same civil rights standards public schools are, meaning that they can deny LGBT and disabled students equal access to educational opportunities.

These “school choice" voucher programs violate the separation of church and state by allowing taxpayer money to fund sectarian religious organizations. Take action now.
http://action.secular.org/app/write-a-letter?5&engagementId=162653

What ‘School Choice’ Advocates Won’t Tell You: Voucher Programs Lack Civil Rights Safeguards

Americans United opposes school vouchers primarily because they are an opportunity for private, religious schools to get a government-funded bailout. After all, nearly two-thirds of the D.C. voucher schools participating in 2014-2015 were faith based.
https://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/what-school-choice-advocates-won-t-tell-you-voucher-programs-lack-civil

The Koch-Like Family You’ve Never Heard Of Influencing State Legislatures | Political Research Associates

The DeVos family—Michigan-based builders of the Amway fortune—is one of the most influential families in conservative U.S. politics. Their agenda includes many items on the Corporate and Christian Right’s wish lists, including so-called “right to work” laws that weaken unions, discriminatory Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) bills, and education privatization (including pushing school vouchers that transfer public dollars to private religious coffers). Although some of their higher-profile activities such as Dick DeVos’ failed 2006 race for Michigan governor and Richard DeVos´ ownership of the Orlando Magic basketball team are covered in the press, their political spending has gotten far less attention. This year 435 seats will be contested in the House of Representatives, 35 in the Senate and 13 gubernatorial races will take place alongside local and county elections; therefore it is critically important for the country to see and debate the influence that rich families like the DeVoses are wielding in politics...
http://www.politicalresearch.org/2015/12/22/the-koch-like-family-youve-never-heard-of-influencing-state-legislatures/

The Extreme Positions Of Kentucky’s New Tea Party Governor

"There's over 300,000 [Kentuckians that are on expanded Medicaid], and Matt Bevin is just going to take it from every single ... Read more

Colorado community divided over school funding

Voters today are choosing whether to recall three school members but the vote has turned ugly over plans for reforms.
https://youtu.be/IDfJteSbEmU

Democratic Governor Slams GOP: They 'Hate 4-Year Olds'

These crazy teabaggers could have been better people with an extra year of preschool, I think. As it is, they're all worried about protecting private ...  Read more

How a $100M Facebook Donation for Neoliberal School Reform Sparked a Grassroots Uprising in Newark

Five years ago, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg donated $100 million to fix the trouble-plagued schools of Newark, New Jersey. Joining forces with Republican Gov. Chris Christie and then-Democratic Mayor Cory Booker, the effort was billed as a model for education reform across the nation. But the story of what followed emerges as a cautionary tale. Tens of millions were spent on hiring outside consultants and expanding charter schools, leading to public school closures, teacher layoffs and an overall decline in student performance. Parents, students, teachers and community members pushed back in a grassroots uprising to save their schools. We are joined by Dale Russakoff, who tells the story in her book, "The Prize: Who’s in Charge of America’s Schools?"
Interview:
https://youtu.be/uIy6aO7mTgA

Hillary Clinton Tells Black Lives Matter She Wants To Eliminate Private Prisons

She also said she's working on a criminal justice platform. ... Read more

How the GOP and Education Privatizers Are Using Charters to Bleed Pennsylvania Schools Dry

Teachers are now working for free in a school district undone by charter schools and state government neglect.
...  Read more

What Donald Trump Believes About Education

Trump hasn't talked much about education policy. Here's what he thinks.  ... Read more

The Puzzling Reason Why Carly Fiorina Wants To Shrink The U.S. Department Of Education

Carly Fiorina continues to spread misinformation about what the U.S. Department of Education does.  ... Read more

10 Reasons Why John Kasich Is As Rabidly Right Wing as the Rest of the GOP Presidential Pack

Kasich is no moderate, but a hit man for the rich.
...  Read more

The First Lie Of The Voucher Gang: ‘We’ve Come To Help The Poor’

The ideologues’ 'free market' solution for secondary education has completely and utterly failed, yet they march forward in the states with the aim of dismantling public education piece by piece
... Read more

Right-Wing ALEC Now Says School Vouchers Are for Kids in Suburbia, Not the Poor

Privatizers go where the money is: the middle class.
...  Read more

The Truth About John Kasich

He's not as moderate as people may think.  Read more