Unions forge alliance to fight growth of charter schools in L.A.
The union representing Los Angeles teachers has pulled together a coalition of other employee unions to oppose a controversial plan to more than double the number of local students attending charter schools.
The linking of the unions is a potentially significant step in the showdown over charter expansion, which, if successful, would alter the education landscape in the city.
The proposed $490-million effort, spearheaded by the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, would enroll half of L.A. Unified students in charter schools over the next eight years.
The plan has allies among a group of civic leaders as well as philanthropists and foundations, including the Walton Family Foundation, which has long supported the growth of charters across the nation.
Opponents said the alignment of the other district unions with the teachers provides a significant political boost.
"This was an important moment because the representatives of all employees, many of whom are parents of students in our schools, are all coming forward to say we should invest in our existing schools," said Alex Caputo-Pearl, president of United Teachers Los Angeles.
Charter supporters questioned the priorities of critics.
"We are committed to ensuring that families have more high-quality choices in public education," said Myrna Castrejon, acting chief executive for the California Charter Schools Assn. "It is astonishing to us that anyone would be standing in the way of those parents' efforts to get the best educational opportunity for their children."
Charters are independently operated and exempt from some rules that govern traditional campuses. Most are non-union. L.A. Unified already has more than 100,000 students in charters, the most in Unions forge alliance to fight growth of charter schools in L.A. - LA Times:
