Thursday, January 31, 2013

Who’s really behind School Choice Week? (Pt. 1) - United for Public Schools

Who’s really behind School Choice Week? (Pt. 1) - United for Public Schools:

Who’s really behind School Choice Week? (Pt. 1)

Posted by admin | January 31, 2013 | Category: actions, corporate agenda |Write Comment

This is the first post in a three-part series. Click here for a share-able image of this information.

School Choice Week 2013 is now in full swing. If you’ve seen the ads and other materials, and are wondering how and where all of it came from, you’re not alone.

There are many small schools and a few individuals signed up as partners orendorsers of School Choice Week, but the real muscle behind this “movement” comes from a small group of wealthy funders, think tanks and lobbying organizations that have very different financial and ideological interests from the communities they claim to want to help. Follow these posts to learn more.

1. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)

Now infamous for their connection to the “Shoot First” and other gun laws that cost unarmed teenagers like Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis their lives, ALEC’s influence over the other public policies that affect our lives is being increasingly scrutinized. Read and share the infographic below to better understand ALEC’s role in public policy.

Relevant Links:

ALEC’s Education Task Force: Members, agenda and more (via SourceWatch)
ALEC Exposed (via The Nation)

Highway to Hell - A Salute to National School Choice Week #EDREform

http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com

Got Choice? Ubetcha!

Celebrating National School Choice Week

National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) Group: 1 in 5 charter schools not doing well enough to stay open

A group that oversees more than half of the nation's 5,600 charter schools said
as many as one in five U.S. charter schools should be shut down because of
poor academic performance.
http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2019784379_charterschools29.html

CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS WEBSITE

CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS

A compilation of news articles about charter schools which have been charged with, or are highly suspected of, tampering with admissions, grades, attendance and testing; misuse of funds and embezzlement; engaging in nepotism and conflicts of interest; engaging in complicated and shady real estate deals; and/or have been engaging in other questionable, unethical, borderline-legal, or illegal activities. This is also a record of charter school instability and other unsavory tidbits.