Thanks to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), It’s a Year Too Late for Hand-Wringing over Charter Schools
Last year, I wrote an open letter to Senator Patty Murray pleading with her to reconsider the lavish financial support charter schools were slated to receive in the soon to be re-authorized ESEA.
My argument:
The Supreme Court has found the Washington State Legislature in contempt for not fulfilling its duty to fully fund basic education.The federal government made this situation even worst when it allowed aid to states to expire in 2012. This money was being used by states to keep our public schools running.Given the precarious state of public school funding in Washington State, I’m confused by your willingness to includegenerous funding for charter schools in the ESEA.Not only did the Supreme Court rule Washington State’s charter law unconstitutional, but charter schools have a track record for all kinds of financial scandals. Don’t believe me? Just google “charter school scandals” and take a look.We can’t afford to have any dollars diverted from our classrooms. Any dollar lost to scandal is one not being spent on the 1 million public school students in Washington State.
The rest is history.
The ESEA sailed through Congress and with President Obama’s signature – became law as the ESSA.
In November, Patty Murray – supporter of the TPP and co-author of the ESSA – skated to another term with 59% of the vote.
The only kink was Trump’s victory and his selection of Betsy DeVos to be the new Secretary of Education. THAT was a buzz kill.
Suddenly, Democrats and progressives (whatever that means anymore) couldn’t stop talking about charters and the evils of privatization.
AWKWARD
Here’s the thing: Democrats are just as into charter schools as Republicans. The only difference is the language they use to sell the idea to their supporters. Democrats talk Thanks to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), It’s a Year Too Late for Hand-Wringing over Charter Schools | Seattle Education:
