DING DONG DONNY: Read: Full text of Trump indictment in Jack Smith's 2020 election, Jan. 6 probe #TrumpIndictment

 

DING DONG DONNY

Read: Full text of Trump indictment in Jack Smith's 2020 election, Jan. 6 probe

Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you breaking news: Ding dong, the witch is dead! That's right, the former president has been indicted in the special counsel's election interference investigation. And let me tell you, the internet is having a field day with this one.

Twitter is blowing up with reactions, ranging from "Lock him up!" to "I can finally sleep at night." It's like the whole world just let out a collective sigh of relief. I mean, let's be real, the past four years have been a bit of a dumpster fire. And that's putting it lightly.

But now, we can all rest easy knowing that justice is being served. And honestly, it couldn't have happened to a more deserving person. I mean, have you seen his tweets? It's like they were written by a toddler who got their hands on a phone. And don't even get me started on his hair. I'm pretty sure it's made out of cotton candy and lies.

But let's not forget the real reason why he's being indicted: election interference. It's like he forgot that we live in a democracy and not a dictatorship. Newsflash, buddy: you can't just do whatever you want and expect to get away with it. The American people deserve better than that.

And speaking of the American people, I think it's safe to say that we're all feeling a little bit better today. It's like a weight has been lifted off of our collective shoulders. We can finally go back to living our lives without constantly worrying about what kind of nonsense he's going to pull next.

So here's to justice being served and the witch being dead. May we never have to deal with someone like him again. And if we do, well, at least we know that we can come together as a country and say "not today, Satan."

Read: Full text of Trump indictment in Jack Smith's 2020 election, Jan. 6 probe https://www.msnbc.com/deadline-white-house/deadline-legal-blog/full-text-trump-indictment-pdf-jack-smith-jan-6-2020-election-rcna96030

Former President Donald Trump has been indicted in special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into 2020 election interference and Jan. 6, 2021.

Read the full text of the indictment below:

Hayley Miller

https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23893902/trump-indictment.pdf

Read the Trump indictment text charging him in 2020 election probe https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-indictment-full-text-read-2020-election-charges/ via @CBSPolitics 

AND FOR MAGA (BEFORE YOU SAY IT)

DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS: SEGREGATION AND THE CORPORATE REFORM DISASTER

DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS SEGREGATION AND THE CORPORATE REFORM DISASTER 

Welcome to Denver Public Schools, where the education is questionable but the laughs are guaranteed. It's been 50 years since the US Supreme Court ordered DPS to integrate, and boy, have they come a long way... backwards. In fact, a recent report commissioned by the Latino Education Coalition found that many schools in DPS are now triple segregated by race, class, and language. But don't worry, folks, the reformers have a solution: the portfolio model! Because if there's one thing billionaire privatizers love more than money, it's a good ol' fashioned experiment on Latino students.

Let's take a trip down memory lane and see how DPS got to this point. In 1973, a federal judge ordered Denver to desegregate its schools through busing, which lasted until 1995 when Denver was declared unitary. But critics argued that Denver's schools remained segregated and unequal, especially for low-income students and students of color. So, the reformers swooped in with their portfolio model, which involves creating a diverse array of school options for families, granting schools more autonomy over their operations and budgets, closing or replacing low-performing schools, and holding all schools accountable for student outcomes. Easy peasy, right?

Well, not exactly. The portfolio model faced resistance from some teachers, parents, students, and community members who organized protests, strikes, lawsuits, and campaigns to challenge the district's policies and leadership. And let's not forget about the data and methods used to evaluate schools and students, which opponents challenged for their validity and equity. But hey, who needs valid and equitable data when you have a billionaire's wallet to back you up?

Despite the challenges, DPS adopted many elements of the portfolio model under the leadership of superintendents Michael Bennet, Tom Boasberg, and Susana Cordova. They expanded charter schools and innovation schools, implemented a unified enrollment system, created performance frameworks for schools, and launched turnaround efforts for struggling schools. And supporters claimed that it improved student achievement, graduation rates, and college readiness in Denver, especially for historically underserved groups. They also argued that it increased parental satisfaction, teacher empowerment, and educational innovation. Sounds great, right?

Well, not exactly. Opponents criticized it for undermining public education, exacerbating segregation and inequality, displacing communities and educators, and relying too much on standardized testing and market forces. And let's not forget about the hilarious disaster that ensued when the reformers took over DPS. It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion... if the train was carrying clowns and pies.

One of the main problems with the portfolio model is that it creates a competitive market for schools, where each school is vying for students and funding. This means that some schools will inevitably fail and be closed or replaced, while others will thrive and attract more resources. But what happens to the students who attend those failing schools? Do they get left behind or shuffled around like unwanted luggage? And what about the teachers who lose their jobs or have to reapply to work at the new school? Do they get treated like disposable assets or valued professionals?

Another problem with the portfolio model is that it relies heavily on standardized testing to measure student achievement and school performance. This means that teachers have to teach to the test instead of focusing on more holistic and creative approaches to learning. It also means that students who struggle with testing or have special needs may be left behind or labeled as failures. And let's not forget about the stress and anxiety that testing can cause for both students and teachers. It's like being forced to take a final exam every day of your life.

But perhaps the biggest problem with the portfolio model is that it perpetuates segregation and inequality in education. By creating a market of school options, it assumes that all families have equal access to those options and can make informed choices about where to send their children. But what about families who don't speak English or don't have transportation or don't have the time or resources to research all their options? What about families who live in neighborhoods with only one school option or no good school options at all? What about families who can't afford private schools or don't want to gamble on charter schools? Are they just out of luck?

It's clear that DPS has a lot of work to do if it wants to provide quality education for all its students. But until then, we can at least enjoy the comedy of errors that is DPS. From triple segregation to standardized testing to charter school chaos, there's never a dull moment in Denver Public Schools. So grab some popcorn and get ready for the show!

Latino students in Denver Public Schools are segregated by race, class and language, according to new study - CBS Colorado https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/denver-public-schools-latino-students-segregated-race-class-language-study-education-coalition/ 

Denver’s Portfolio Model School District Is a Failure! https://tultican.com/2019/01/19/denvers-portfolio-model-school-district-is-a-failure/ 

"Resegregation Report_Draft_Updated 230515.pdf"   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Mv4SuodtNQnF37b3Dwpxq3P5gW7rr0yu/view?usp=sharing

Study: Segregation of Latino students is pervasive in Denver Public Schools - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD_UtoInadU 

THE DEFT DIVE

School reform history in Denver Public Schools. This is a complex and controversial topic that has been debated for decades. Here is a brief overview of some of the key events and issues related to this topic, including the portfolio model.

• - In 1973, a federal judge ordered Denver to desegregate its schools through busing, a policy that aimed to create more racial diversity and equity in education. The court order lasted until 1995, when Denver was declared unitary, meaning it had eliminated the vestiges of segregation¹.
• - However, many critics argued that Denver's schools remained segregated and unequal, especially for low-income students and students of color. In response, some reformers advocated for more school choice and accountability, which led to the emergence of the portfolio model in the late 1990s².
• - The portfolio model is a strategy for managing public schools that involves creating a diverse array of school options for families, granting schools more autonomy over their operations and budgets, closing or replacing low-performing schools, and holding all schools accountable for student outcomes³. The model also encourages collaboration and competition among different types of schools, such as district-run schools, charter schools, and innovation schools⁴.
• - Denver Public Schools adopted many elements of the portfolio model under the leadership of superintendents Michael Bennet (2005-2009), Tom Boasberg (2009-2018), and Susana Cordova (2019-2020). Some of their initiatives included expanding charter schools and innovation schools, implementing a unified enrollment system, creating performance frameworks for schools, and launching turnaround efforts for struggling schools⁵.
• - Supporters of the portfolio model claimed that it improved student achievement, graduation rates, and college readiness in Denver, especially for historically underserved groups. They also argued that it increased parental satisfaction, teacher empowerment, and educational innovation⁶.
• - Opponents of the portfolio model criticized it for undermining public education, exacerbating segregation and inequality, displacing communities and educators, and relying too much on standardized testing and market forces. They also challenged the validity and equity of the data and methods used to evaluate schools and students⁷.
• - The portfolio model faced increasing resistance from some teachers, parents, students, and community members, who organized protests, strikes, lawsuits, and campaigns to challenge the district's policies and leadership. In 2019, three candidates backed by the teachers union won seats on the seven-member school board, shifting the balance of power away from the pro-reform faction⁸.
• - The new board majority clashed with Cordova over several issues, such as reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, renegotiating teacher contracts, and revising school performance frameworks. Cordova resigned in November 2020 after less than two years on the job, citing a lack of trust and support from the board⁹.
• - The district is currently led by interim superintendent Dwight Jones, who is expected to serve until July 2021. The board has launched a national search for a permanent superintendent, who will face the challenges of recovering from the pandemic's impact on learning, addressing persistent gaps in opportunity and achievement, and navigating the changing political landscape of education in Denver[^10^].

Bing, 8/1/2023

(1) For Years, Denver Public Schools Were a Haven for School Reform. After .... https://www.the74million.org/article/for-years-denver-public-schools-were-a-haven-for-school-reform-after-a-superintendents-resignation-what-comes-next/.

(2) Denver Public Schools’ controversial reform strategy led to higher test .... https://www.cpr.org/2022/12/06/denver-public-schools-reform-strategy-school-choice-results/.

(3) How Denver modified its new reading curriculum - Chalkbeat Colorado. https://co.chalkbeat.org/2022/10/18/23401005/denver-inclusive-diverse-new-reading-curriculum-culturally-responsive-education-history.

(4) Understanding School Reform and Community Pushback. https://www.du.edu/news/understanding-school-reform-and-community-pushback.

(5) More than half of Denver's public schools are segregated, 25 years .... https://www.denverpost.com/2019/09/08/denver-school-segregation/.

(6) Portfolio School Management For Dummies - Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2019/01/16/portfolio-school-management-for-dummies/.

(7) . https://bing.com/search?q=portfolio+model+in+education.

(8) What is the portfolio model of running schools? A Chalkbeat explainer. https://www.chalkbeat.org/2019/3/8/21107014/a-chalkbeat-explainer-what-is-the-portfolio-model-of-running-schools.

(9) Teaching Portfolios | Center for Teaching | Vanderbilt University. https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/teaching-portfolios/.

(10) e-Portfolio | Center for Teaching & Learning. https://teaching.berkeley.edu/resources/assessment-and-evaluation/design-assessment/e-portfolio.

(11) undefined. https://www.aamc.org/professional-development/affinity-groups/gfa/faculty-vitae/educator-portfolio-tool.

(12) undefined. https://team-tn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/General-2016-17-Student-Growth-Portfolio-Model-Guidebook_Update-12.16.16.pdf.

(13) undefined. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/02673843.1995.9747770.

FROM GOOGLE SEARCH WITH BARD AI POWERED

Here are some details about school reform history in Denver Public Schools: co.chalkbeat.org, Denver Public Schools, +3 more

• In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered Denver Public Schools to desegregate its schools co.chalkbeat.org
• In 1970, the U.S. District Court ordered busing for racial balancing within the schools
• Desegregation within the Denver Public Schools system was lifted in 1995 Denver Public Schools
• Reforms that took place from 2008 to 2019 were rooted in three principles: offering more choice for families, granting individual schools more autonomy, and holding schools accountable for student outcomes CU Denver
• Denver made it easier for families to exercise school choice, creating a common application for every school in the district
• Denver's reforms led to higher test scores Chalkbeat Colorado
• Denver began its discipline reform work nearly a decade ago to combat high levels of suspensions and expulsions Children's Defense Fund
• A third of Stedman's students are white, a third are Black, and a third are Hispanic co.chalkbeat.org

OH GOD: OKLA RELIGIOUS CHARTER SCHOOL IS GETTING SUED BY EVERYBODY

 

OH GOD: OKLA RELIGIOUS CHARTER SCHOOL IS GETTING SUED BY EVERYBODY

Oklahoma, the state that brought us tornadoes, fracking, and Kevin Durant, has now given us something even more ridiculous: the first religious public charter school in the country. Yes, you read that right. St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Catholic Charter School is set to open in 2024, offering online Catholic instruction funded by taxpayers. 

The school's curriculum will reportedly include subjects like reading, math, and science, but with a Catholic twist. Students will learn that God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, that evolution is a hoax, and that climate change is a myth. They'll also be taught how to pray the rosary, confess their sins, and avoid hell – you know, all the important stuff. 

But wait, it gets better. The school's supporters claim that it won't violate the separation of church and state because it will be independently managed by the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa. Because apparently, having a religious institution manage a publicly-funded school totally doesn't blur the lines between church and state. 

Unsurprisingly, the school's approval has sparked outrage from civil rights groups, educators, and lawmakers who plan to challenge it in court. The Oklahoma Attorney General has called the approval "unconstitutional" and said it could lead to costly legal action. Americans United for Separation of Church and State has pledged to "take all possible legal action to fight this decision and defend the separation of church and state." 

But hey, let's look on the bright side – at least this opens the door for other religious groups to seek public funding for their own charter schools. Who's excited for the Church of Scientology School of Thetan Studies? Or how about the Mormon School of Multiple Wives? The possibilities are endless! 

In all seriousness though, the approval of this school raises important constitutional questions about the role of religion in public education. It also highlights the need for better regulation and accountability in the charter school system. How will St. Isidore measure student performance? Ensure teacher quality? Comply with state and federal laws? These are all valid concerns that need to be addressed. 

At the end of the day, it's important to remember that public schools exist to serve all students regardless of their religion. While it's understandable that some families may want a faith-based option for their children, it's not fair to divert public funds away from schools that serve everyone. We need to prioritize the education and well-being of all students, not just those who happen to share a particular religious belief. 

So let's hope that this lawsuit is successful in blocking the approval of St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Catholic Charter School. And let's also hope that this serves as a wake-up call for better oversight and regulation in the charter school system. Because if we don't learn from this mistake, who knows what other ridiculous schools we'll be funding with taxpayer dollars in the future? The Jedi School of Lightsaber Combat? The Pastafarian School of Noodle Studies? Only time will tell.

Oklahoma parents, faith leaders and education group sue to stop US's first public religious school https://news.yahoo.com/oklahoma-parents-faith-leaders-education-225523979.html 

Big Education Ape: LETTUCE US PRAY: OKLAHOMA APPROVES FIRST RELIGIOUS CHARTER SCHOOL - GOD HELP US https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2023/06/lettuce-us-pray-oklahoma-approves-first.html 

Lawsuit aims to halt opening of St. Isidore, a Catholic charter school - The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/07/31/lawsuit-oklahoma-st-isidore-charter-school/ 

Big Education Ape: RELIGIOUS CHARTER SCHOOLS - OXYMORON? https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2023/06/religious-charter-schools-oxymoron.html 

THE DEFT DIVE

 A lawsuit filed by a group of parents, faith leaders and a public education nonprofit to stop Oklahoma from establishing and funding what would be the nation’s first religious public charter school.

• - The lawsuit was filed on Monday, August 1, 2023, in Oklahoma County District Court by the Oklahoma Parent Legislative Action Committee, a non-partisan public school advocacy group, and nine other plaintiffs, including parents, clergy members, and educators¹².
• - The lawsuit challenges the approval of the St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Catholic Charter School, an online public school that would be administered by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa¹². The school was approved by the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board in June 2023 and is scheduled to open in 2024¹².
• - The lawsuit claims that the charter school would violate the Oklahoma Constitution, the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act, and the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board regulations by using taxpayer funds to support a religious institution that would discriminate in admissions, discipline, and employment based on religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other protected characteristics¹².
• - The lawsuit also argues that the charter school would undermine the principle of separation of church and state, which is implied by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The First Amendment states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...”³. This clause has been interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court to mean that the government cannot favor or endorse any religion over another or interfere with the individual’s right to practice their faith³.
• - The plaintiffs are represented by local attorneys and national groups, such as the American Civil Liberties Union, the Freedom from Religion Foundation, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State¹². They are seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent the charter school from opening and receiving state funds until the case is resolved¹².
• - The defendants are the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, the Oklahoma Board of Education, and the St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Catholic Charter School. They have not yet filed a response to the lawsuit as of August 2, 2023¹².
• - The defendants have previously argued that the charter school is a private school that has the right to receive public funds under recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings that allowed private schools to participate in school voucher programs and government grants¹². They have also claimed that the charter school would provide more educational choices for parents and students and would not impose any religious requirements on them¹².
• - The lawsuit has sparked a debate over the role of religion in public education and the meaning of religious liberty in Oklahoma and across the nation. Some supporters of the charter school have praised it as a victory for religious freedom and diversity, while some opponents have criticized it as a threat to public schools and secular democracy¹².

Bing, 8/1/2023

(1) Oklahoma religious charter school faces lawsuit asking judge to block .... https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/01/us/oklahoma-religious-charter-school-opening-lawsuit/index.html.

(2) Oklahoma's state-funded Catholic charter school hit with lawsuit from parents, religious leaders. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/oklahomas-state-funded-catholic-charter-school-hit-with-lawsuit-from-parents-religious-leaders/ar-AA1eDH8E.

(3) Oklahoma lawsuit seeks to block opening of first publicly funded religious charter school in the US. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/oklahoma-lawsuit-seeks-to-block-opening-of-first-publicly-funded-religious-charter-school-in-the-us/ar-AA1eDDzC.

(4) Oklahoma parents, faith leaders and education group sue to stop US's first public religious school. https://news.yahoo.com/oklahoma-parents-faith-leaders-education-225523979.html.

(5) Publicly-funded Catholic school in Oklahoma subject of new lawsuit. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2023/08/01/oklahoma-religious-charter-school-lawsuit/70504163007/.

(6) Charter Schools | Oklahoma State Department of Education. https://sde.ok.gov/charter-schools.

(7) STATE OF OKLAHOMA AS INTRODUCED Chapter 42, O.S.L. 2017 (70 O.S. Supp .... http://oklegislature.gov/cf_pdf/2021-22%20int/sb/SB152%20int.pdf.

(8) Oklahoma Charter Schools Program - Oklahoma State Department of Education. https://sde.ok.gov/faqs/oklahoma-charter-schools-program.

(9) Separation of Church and State | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information .... https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/separation_of_church_and_state.

(10) Establishment Clause (Separation of Church and State). https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/885/establishment-clause-separation-of-church-and-state.

(11) Separation of church and state in the United States - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_church_and_state_in_the_United_States.

(12) Is Separation of Church and State in the Constitution?. https://constitutionus.com/constitution/is-separation-of-church-and-state-in-the-constitution/.

(13) undefined. https://www.publiccharters.org.

(14) undefined. https://www.opsrc.net.

FROM BARD AI

On August 1, 2023, a group of parents, faith leaders, and a public education nonprofit filed a lawsuit in Oklahoma seeking to block the state's support for the nation's first publicly funded religious charter school. The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, argues that the school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit argue that the school will be funded by taxpayer dollars, and that the curriculum will be explicitly religious. They also argue that the school will have a "chilling effect" on other religious schools, as they will be less likely to receive state funding if they are not affiliated with a major religious denomination.

The state of Oklahoma has not yet responded to the lawsuit. However, the attorney general of Oklahoma, John O'Connor, has said that he believes the school is constitutional.

The lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal challenges to the use of taxpayer dollars to fund religious schools. In 2020, the Supreme Court ruled in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue that states cannot discriminate against religious schools when providing tuition assistance to students. However, the Court did not rule on whether it is constitutional for states to provide direct funding to religious schools.

The outcome of the lawsuit in Oklahoma could have a significant impact on the future of religious charter schools in the United States. If the court rules in favor of the plaintiffs, it could set a precedent that would make it more difficult for states to fund religious schools. However, if the court rules in favor of the state, it could pave the way for more religious charter schools to be established in the United States.

The lawsuit is still in its early stages, and it is too early to say how it will be resolved. However, it is clear that the issue of religious charter schools is a complex one that raises important constitutional questions. The outcome of the lawsuit could have a significant impact on the future of religious education in the United States.