Bush’s Education Foundation Sought to Influence Other State’s Employees on Louisiana School Board Races
Maine was among the states which In the Public Interests obtained emails in an FOIA request regarding contacts between Bush’s Foundation for Excellence in Education (FEE) staff and numerous state employees. Only 13 emails were acquired, but one cloud included an exchange which revealed to what length FEE staff and state employees were involved in influencing elections in other states.
In 2011, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal wanted John White to be his state’s education commissioner, but knew he needed a state board which would look favorably on his universal voucher scheme. So did former Florida governor Jeb Bush. On October 5, 2011, FEE CEO Patricia Levesque sent the following message to numerous state education agency personnel across the country on FEE’s Chiefs for Change mailing list.
In 2011, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal wanted John White to be his state’s education commissioner, but knew he needed a state board which would look favorably on his universal voucher scheme. So did former Florida governor Jeb Bush. On October 5, 2011, FEE CEO Patricia Levesque sent the following message to numerous state education agency personnel across the country on FEE’s Chiefs for Change mailing list.
Chiefs,An article on Louisiana state board of education races – that will impact selection of next chief in Louisiana. Gov. Jindal wants John White as next state chief. Governor Bush is lending his
New Mexico Ed Boss – With Close Ties to Jeb Bush – Overrules State Commission in Favor of Another Bush Foundation Donor
From an Associated Press story in the Santa Fe New Mexican:
New Mexico education chief Hanna Skandera, overruling the state Public Education Commission this week, will allow a new all-online charter school to open in the fall.
The Albuquerque Journal reported that the school will be called New Mexico Connections Academy and will contract with the online, for-profit curriculum company Connections Academy. The school aims to serve students in grades K-12 from around the state.
Skandera’s decision Wednesday came as a national nonprofit, In the Public Interest, released thousands of emails between former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s education foundation and policymakers in several states, including New Mexico.
Connections Academy is one of several online education companies that donates money to Bush’s Foundation for Excellence in Education, an organization Skandera turns to for advice on reform initiatives.
The school proposal was submitted by Paul Gessing, president of the Rio Grande Foundation. But
