THE NATION’S REPORT CARD: A TALE OF DEEP DOO-DOO, BILLIONAIRES, AND THE BIG LIE

 

THE NATION’S REPORT CARD

A TALE OF DEEP DOO-DOO, BILLIONAIRES, AND THE BIG LIE

The Nation’s Report Card, officially known as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), dropped its latest batch of bad news in 2024, and boy, is it a doozy. Eighth-grade science scores plummeted 4 points since 2019, while 12th-grade math and reading scores each took a 3-point nosedive. Reading scores for high school seniors are now at their lowest since 1992, and math scores have been sliding since 2005. If this were a report card for the American education system, it’d be scribbled with red ink and a stern note: “See me after class.” The NPR headline screams, “Science, math, and reading scores are down,” and the data backs it up—31% of 8th graders hit “proficient” in science, while only 22% and 35% of 12th graders managed the same in math and reading, respectively. Yikes. America’s education system is, to put it politely, in deep doo-doo.

But here’s where the plot thickens, and it’s not just about kids forgetting their times tables or struggling to parse Shakespeare. The pundits, education wizards, and talking heads have their scapegoats lined up: smartphones, TikTok, AI, bad teachers, lazy students, indifferent parents, dull pencils, or maybe the sun rising in the east. Sure, kids scrolling through memes instead of studying doesn’t help, but let’s not kid ourselves—the real rot in the system started taking hold around 2010, and it’s not because Johnny can’t stop texting. The data points to a deeper, uglier truth: poverty is growing, and the gap between the haves and have-nots is turning into an educational Grand Canyon. While better-off kids keep climbing, poor kids are sliding backward, and no one wants to talk about the elephant in the room: privatization and the systematic dismantling of public education.

The Big Lie: Blame Teachers, Not the System

For over four decades, a slick narrative has been peddled by a billionaire oligarchy and their corporate media megaphones: public schools are failing, teachers are the problem, and the solution is to privatize everything. Charter schools, vouchers for private schools, and a hearty dose of “school choice” are sold as the cure-all for America’s educational woes. It’s a compelling story, but it’s a big lie—one that’s been repeated so often it’s practically gospel. The reality? This push for privatization has led to a resegregation of schools worse than the days of Jim Crow, concentrating poor and minority kids in underfunded public schools while wealthier families opt out. The Nation’s Report Card doesn’t lie, but it also doesn’t tell the whole story—because the whole story would require pointing fingers at the billionaires bankrolling this mess.

Let’s break it down. The NAEP data shows that student performance has been declining, but the steepest drops align with a period of growing income inequality and education policy shifts that began around 2010. During this time, the push for privatization accelerated, with charter schools proliferating and voucher programs expanding. Meanwhile, public schools—especially those serving low-income communities—faced budget cuts, teacher layoffs, and crumbling infrastructure. The NPR report mentions cuts to the U.S. Education Department during the Trump administration, including layoffs at the Institute of Education Sciences and canceled assessments, which hobbled our ability to even track the damage. But this isn’t just a Trump-era problem; it’s a bipartisan failure decades in the making. Both parties have sipped the privatization Kool-Aid, and the result is a system where the rich get richer (and smarter), and the poor get left behind.

Poverty: The Problem No One Wants to Name

Here’s the inconvenient truth: poverty is the single biggest driver of educational outcomes. Study after study shows that kids from low-income families face barriers—hunger, unstable housing, lack of access to books or technology—that make learning an uphill battle. The NAEP data doesn’t break down scores by income level explicitly, but the trends scream it loud and clear: as poverty grows, scores drop. Since 2010, the child poverty rate in the U.S. has hovered around 20%, with spikes during economic downturns. Meanwhile, wealthier districts keep churning out high achievers, while schools in poor areas are starved of resources. It’s not rocket science—kids who can’t afford breakfast aren’t going to ace their science tests.

But instead of tackling poverty, the billionaire class and their media allies keep pointing at teachers. “Fire the bad ones!” they cry, as if a few underperforming educators are the root of the problem. Never mind that teachers are often working miracles with shoestring budgets, overcrowded classrooms, and kids who come to school traumatized by the effects of poverty. The privatization push conveniently ignores this, funneling public funds into charter schools and private institutions that cherry-pick students and leave public schools as the last resort for the poorest kids. The result? A de facto segregation where race and class determine who gets a quality education. It’s Jim Crow with a smiley face and a voucher.

The Billionaire Playbook: Profit Over People

Now, let’s talk about the billionaires. The same folks pushing privatization—think Betsy DeVos, the Koch brothers, or any number of hedge fund honchos—aren’t just altruistic philanthropists trying to “fix” education. They’re playing a long game for profit and control. Charter schools and private institutions are big business, raking in taxpayer dollars while often delivering worse outcomes than public schools. A 2017 study from Stanford’s CREDO found that charter schools, on average, perform no better than public schools when you control for student demographics. Vouchers? They often fund religious schools that teach creationism over science or exclude kids who don’t fit their mold. And yet, the narrative persists: public schools are failing, so let’s give the billionaires more money to “save” them.

This isn’t just about education; it’s about power. The same billionaire class that pushes privatization also bankrolls think tanks, media outlets, and political campaigns to keep the big lie alive. They don’t want to talk about their own misdeeds—say, the Jeffrey Epstein billionaire pedophile ring, where the ultra-rich shielded each other from accountability for years. Instead, they deflect, blaming teachers, students, or parents for systemic failures engineered by their own greed. It’s a classic move: create a crisis, offer a solution that benefits you, and then blame the victims when it all goes south.

The Real Solution: Invest in Public Schools

So, what does the Nation’s Report Card really tell us? It’s not just that scores are down; it’s that the system is rigged against the kids who need it most. If we want to turn this around, we need to stop scapegoating teachers and start addressing the root causes. That means fully funding public schools, especially in low-income areas. It means tackling poverty head-on with policies like universal school meals, affordable housing, and healthcare for all kids. It means rejecting the privatization scam and reinvesting in public education as a public good, not a profit center for billionaires.

The NAEP dashboard and data tools are great for slicing and dicing the numbers, but they won’t fix the problem. Neither will restructuring test schedules or begging for “focused action” as the experts suggest. What we need is a reckoning—a willingness to call out the big lie and the billionaires behind it. Until we do, the Nation’s Report Card will keep delivering the same grim news: America’s education system is in deep doo-doo, and the kids paying the price are the ones who can least afford it.

Nation’s Report Card: Science, math and reading scores are down : NPR https://www.npr.org/2025/09/09/nx-s1-5526918/nations-report-card-scores-reading-math-science-education-cuts

The Nation's Report Card | NAEP https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/

The Nation's Report Card https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/

Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts! 9-9-25

 

Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights

A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!

9-9-25

Mercedes Schneider Reviews A Powerful New Book https://dianeravitch.net/2025/09/08/mercedes-schneider-reviews-an-important-new-book/ via @dianeravitch 

Mercedes Schneider reviews Kristen Buras' book *What We Stand to Lose*, which explores the closure of George Washington Carver High School in New Orleans and its impact on the Black community. The book delves into the school's history, the dedication of its teachers, and the systemic racism that led to its closure post-Hurricane Katrina. Buras highlights the neglect faced by Black schools and communities, while celebrating the resilience and commitment of educators who supported their students despite overwhelming challenges.

### Key Points

- Kristen Buras' book examines the history and closure of George Washington Carver High School in New Orleans, emphasizing the systemic neglect faced by Black communities. 

- The book sheds light on the dedication of Carver High School's teachers, who went above and beyond for their students despite chronic underfunding. 

- Post-Katrina, the refusal to grant the community a charter to reopen Carver High School is highlighted as a significant injustice. 

- Schneider reflects on her own upbringing in Louisiana, uncovering the deep-seated racism and segregation that shaped local education systems. 

- The book critiques the "white savior" mentality and calls for honoring the histories of Black schools as told by their communities. 

- The closure of Black institutions in New Orleans is tied to broader efforts to gentrify the city and suppress its Black middle class. 

Sacramento: How Could a Charter School Misuse $180 Million in Two Years? https://dianeravitch.net/2025/09/08/sacramento-how-could-a-charter-school-misuse-180-million-in-two-years/ via @dianeravitch 

Sacramento charter school Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools misused $180 million in K-12 funds over two years, leading to investigations and calls for increased oversight of charter schools. The school, which serves adults, had low graduation rates, unqualified teachers, and mismanagement of funds, including extravagant spending on trips and gifts. The audit revealed systemic issues, prompting legislative efforts to strengthen accountability for charter schools.

### Key Points

- Highlands Community Charter misused $180 million in K-12 funds and must repay it. 

- The school had low graduation rates and hired unqualified teachers, impacting academic performance. 

- Extravagant spending included trips, gifts, and leasing a ballpark, revealing financial mismanagement. 

- Legislative efforts are underway to improve charter school oversight and accountability. 

- The school exploited rules allowing adult charter schools to receive K-12 funding. 

The Courts Are Striking Down Trump's Illegal Orders; What Will the Supreme Court Do? https://dianeravitch.net/2025/09/08/the-courts-are-striking-down-trumps-illegal-orders-what-will-supreme-court-do/ via @dianeravitch 

The article discusses recent legal setbacks for the Trump administration, highlighting key rulings by federal courts that have invalidated various policies related to tariffs, deportations, military law enforcement, and the use of the Alien Enemies Act. The author, Jay Kuo, emphasizes that despite concerns about potential Supreme Court reversals or Trump’s defiance of court orders, lower court victories have led to significant progress in curbing the administration's overreach. Examples include successful lawsuits by Blue State Attorneys General reclaiming withheld funds and creative legal strategies to counter White House directives. The piece encourages readers to remain optimistic about the judiciary's ability to hold the government accountable and stresses the importance of continued legal resistance.

### Key Points:

- Federal courts have struck down multiple Trump policies, including tariffs, deportations, and misuse of federal troops. 

- Concerns about Supreme Court reversals or Trump defying orders are addressed, noting that most rulings have been enforced. 

- Blue states have successfully used lawsuits to reclaim withheld funds, benefiting public health infrastructure. 

- The judiciary has improved its ability to ensure government compliance with court orders, despite delays or misdirection. 

- Resourceful civil rights lawyers continue to find new ways to challenge Trump’s policies, even adapting to unfavorable SCOTUS rulings. 

- Lower court victories are gradually chipping away at the administration’s authoritarian tendencies. 

Fascism Alert! SCOTUS Allows Trump's "Roving Patrols" of ICE https://dianeravitch.net/2025/09/08/scotus-allows-trumps-roving-patrols-of-ice/ via @dianeravitch

The article discusses the controversial decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold "roving patrols" by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which allow agents to stop and detain individuals based on their apparent ethnicity, particularly targeting Latino individuals. Lower courts previously ruled these practices violated the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable search and seizure, but the Supreme Court overturned these decisions without explanation. Critics argue this decision reflects a politically motivated interpretation of constitutional principles and raises concerns about racial profiling and civil rights violations.

### Key Points

- The Supreme Court upheld ICE "roving patrols" in Southern California, allowing agents to stop individuals based on ethnicity despite lower courts deeming it unconstitutional. 

- Lower courts ruled these practices violated the Fourth Amendment, as they lacked "reasonable suspicion" and were largely based on ethnicity or location. 

- Critics accuse the Supreme Court's majority of inconsistency in their "originalist" interpretation of the Constitution, claiming political bias. 

Big Education Ape: THE BOY WHO CRIED CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDAL: A MODERN FABLE OF WOLVES, BILLIONAIRES, AND THE DEVOURING OF PUBLIC EDUCATION https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-boy-who-cried-charter-school.html 

BIG EDUCATION APE explores the ongoing issues surrounding charter schools and voucher programs in California. The article uses a modern fable to highlight the privatization of public education, driven by billionaire-backed initiatives, and the systemic fraud and mismanagement within the charter school system. It emphasizes the growing financial scandals, lack of oversight, and the impact on public education, calling for grassroots resistance and legislative reforms.

### Key Points

- California's charter school system faces widespread fraud, mismanagement, and scandals, with billions of public funds misused. 

- Billionaire-backed organizations like the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) aggressively push for charter expansion, influencing elections and blocking reforms. 

- Activists like Sharon Higgins and organizations such as the Network for Public Education (NPE) fight against privatization and expose charter school failures. 

- The A3 Education scandal exemplifies systemic issues, with executives siphoning millions through fraudulent student enrollments. 

- Reports call for stricter oversight, mandatory audits, and fraud risk assessments to prevent further exploitation of public funds. 

Big Education Ape: UPDATE YESTERDAY'S AI EDUCATION NEWS: Genius Insights or Digital Spitballs? https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/09/update-yesterdays-ai-education-news.html 

BIG EDUCATION APE UNCHAINED UPDATE: Genius Insights or Digital Spitballs?  

This satirical article examines the role of AI models in analyzing education news from August 31 to September 5, 2025. It critiques leading AI tools—Gemini, Grok, Copilot, and ChatGPT-4—for their varied approaches to summarizing education trends, emphasizing their strengths and weaknesses. Key topics include federal funding, digital divides, curriculum updates, and policy shifts, all intertwined with humor and skepticism about AI's ability to prioritize human-relevant issues.

### Key Points

- AI models like Gemini, Grok, Copilot, and ChatGPT-4 provided conflicting summaries of education news, showcasing their unique biases and limitations.   

- Federal education funding controversies included the Trump administration releasing funds after lawsuits and proposed budget cuts affecting vulnerable students.   

- Digital infrastructure issues persist, with over 40% of schools lacking internet access, despite AI's increasing role in classrooms.   

- Curriculum innovations include NCERT’s free online math course and CBSE’s revamped Legal Studies syllabus to align with career needs.   

- Gender equity trends showed women dominating Company Secretary enrollments, while the gender gap in math scores widened post-pandemic.   

- Policy changes like Florida’s vaccine mandate elimination and debates over school choice sparked concerns about equity and public school accountability.   

- AI's role in education is growing, but its effectiveness relies on human oversight and skepticism to address nuanced issues.

 

Big Education Ape: LET'S CHECK THIS WEEK'S TOP NEWS AND OTHER STORIES Saturday, September 6, 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/09/lets-check-this-weeks-top-news-and.html 

The article provides a roundup of various topics and blog posts, ranging from climate change predictions, political critiques, education issues, and social justice movements. It also highlights key figures, events, and discussions in public education and broader societal concerns.

### Key Points

- Climate models have accurately predicted global warming effects, showcasing evidence in atmospheric and oceanic changes. 

- Criticism of Stephen Miller's political actions and influence, including his portrayal as a "black-hearted bureaucrat." 

- Parodies and critiques of political systems, including oligarchy and constitutional manipulation. 

- Discussions on Donald Trump’s controversial legacy and impact on history and governance. 

- Education-focused posts addressing public school privatization, funding cuts, and the fight for equitable education. 

- Coverage of social justice movements, including Black Lives Matter and school safety concerns. 

- Highlighting the importance of solar energy in combating climate change and reducing carbon footprints. 

- A roundup of blog posts providing insights on various societal and political topics. 

Big Education Ape: A WHIRLWIND WEEK IN EDUCATION: WHAT THE AI ORACLES SAY ABOUT AUGUST 31–SEPTEMBER 5, 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/09/a-whirlwind-week-in-education-what-ai.html 

A whirlwind overview of education in 2025 highlights significant developments, challenges, and AI-driven perspectives. From funding battles to global initiatives, the article explores how education mirrors societal struggles and progress.

From Idaho to Texas to Florida: The Harm of Sweeping ‘Parental Rights’ Laws Texas’s SB 12 proves what child advocates have long warned: sweeping parental control laws deny kids even the most basic protections. https://brucelesley.substack.com/p/from-idaho-to-texas-to-florida-the 

The article discusses the negative consequences of sweeping "parental rights" laws, focusing on Texas's SB 12 and similar laws in other states. These laws require parental consent for virtually all health services provided to children at school, except life-saving interventions. The article highlights the bureaucratic challenges, harm to children’s welfare, and risks posed to abused children, emphasizing the need for repeal or significant reforms to protect children’s rights, safety, and well-being.

### Key Points  

- Texas's SB 12 prohibits schools from providing medical, psychiatric, and psychological treatment without parental consent, even for basic first aid.   

- The law has led to schools scrambling to collect signed consent forms for over 5.5 million children, delaying or denying care in cases where forms are unavailable.   

- SB 12 is criticized for its sweeping language, which prevents routine care like bandages, ice packs, and counseling unless parental consent is explicitly given.   

- The authors of SB 12 are now asking for reinterpretation of their own law due to its unintended consequences, but the plain language remains problematic.   

- The law creates barriers for abused children, as it gives abusive parents veto power over medical attention or counseling, further endangering vulnerable kids.   

- Similar laws in other states, like Idaho, have led to tragic situations, such as delays in care for allergies, suicide attempts, and pregnancy-related health issues.   

- These laws prioritize parental control over children’s health and safety, often creating absurd and harmful outcomes.   

- The article argues that children are rights-bearing individuals and that their welfare should not be subordinated to absolute parental control.   

- Sweeping “parental rights” laws enable harmful outcomes, including denying critical medical interventions or empowering abusive parents.   

- Proposed solutions include repealing SB 12, shifting to opt-out consent models, protecting confidential adolescent care, and adopting a “best interests of the child” standard.   

- The article emphasizes the need for urgent action to prevent further harm to children caused by these laws. 

The COLA is CRAPOLA And other observations https://arthurgoldstein.substack.com/p/the-cola-is-crapola 

The COLA is CRAPOLA And other observations Arthur Goldstein 

### Key Points

- The COLA (cost of living adjustment) applies only to the first $18,000 of income and offers minimal benefits, such as $216 annually, highlighting its inadequacy for retirees. 

- Unity leadership's repetitive resolutions for improving COLA have yielded little progress, raising concerns about their effectiveness. 

- Unity has been criticized for lack of transparency in health plan contracts, with members unable to view agreements before voting. 

- Activists and retirees have opposed Unity’s support for Medicare Advantage plans, emphasizing the need for protecting traditional Medicare. 

- Unity's actions reveal a pattern of prioritizing control over healthcare decisions, despite promises to safeguard members' interests. 

- The cost of living in NYC far exceeds the benefits provided by COLA, underscoring the disparity between leadership decisions and member needs. 

School choice systems: Ranked Application Systems work best - Education Research Report https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/ 

### Key Points

- A study examines three school choice application systems: a common application, a decentralized system with costly separate applications, and a ranked-choice system using a matching algorithm. 

- The common application increases access but may lead to worse matches due to heightened competition, while decentralized systems encourage selective applications due to application costs. 

- Ranked-choice systems reduce application costs and improve preference-based matching, minimizing mismatches. 

- Analysis of Boston's charter school sector shows that adopting a common application did not significantly improve access for disadvantaged groups or outperform alternatives. 

- Counterfactual simulations suggest ranked-choice systems consistently outperform common applications under various conditions. 

Education Research Report: College Loans and Human Capital Investment https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/2025/09/college-loans-and-human-capital.html 

Education Research Report: International Students, Immigration Policies and Implications for Innovation https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/2025/09/international-students-immigration.html 

CURMUDGUCATION: Privatizing Taxpayer Dollars https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2025/09/privatizing-taxpayer-dollars.html 

### Key Points

- Charter and voucher schools are criticized for converting public taxpayer dollars into private wealth and assets, often through real estate dealings. 

- Renaissance Charter School in Leon County faced issues like low enrollment, poor academic performance, and contract violations, ultimately leading to its closure. 

- The transition from charter to private schools, such as Tallahassee Preparatory Academy, raises concerns about reduced oversight and accountability, especially with universal voucher programs. 

- Taxpayer-funded property and assets do not revert to public school districts when charters close, leading to public resources being locked in private hands. 

- Examples from other states, like Pennsylvania, show how taxpayer money intended for education is often redirected to build real estate empires for charter organizations. 

Teacher Tom: The Sky is Not Falling https://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-sky-is-not-falling.html 

The article discusses the misrepresentation of educational research in media, particularly a study linking video games to decreased academic motivation. The author critiques fear-mongering headlines that oversimplify complex issues, emphasizing the importance of deeper analysis before drawing conclusions. While the study shows an association between gaming and lower academic motivation, it does not establish causation. The author argues that such sensational reporting leads to overreaction and unnecessary restrictions on children, which may exacerbate anxiety and depression rather than solve underlying issues.

### Key Points

- Media often oversimplifies educational research, using clickbait headlines that promote fear-mongering. 

- A study associating gaming with lower academic motivation does not prove causation, contrary to media claims. 

- Fear-driven reactions to such headlines result in excessive restrictions on children, potentially harming their well-being. 

- The author advocates for critical thinking and deeper analysis of research to combat exaggerated narratives. 

Which Joy Inspires You? – Cloaking Inequity https://cloakinginequity.com/2025/09/08/which-joy-inspires-you/ 

Joy is presented as a transformative force in justice and education, emphasized by scholars from Princeton's African American Studies department. Far from being trivial, joy is shown to be viral, aspirational, liberatory, resilient, and communal, serving as an engine for endurance and creativity in movements for justice. The article highlights how joy can spread like "viral justice," inspire hope even amidst despair, embody freedom, transform pain into resilience, and unite communities as a source of collective power. These perspectives underscore the importance of joy in activism, education, and community-building, framing it as essential to liberation and resistance.

### Key Points

- Joy sustains movements for justice, acting as a powerful source of endurance, creativity, and community-building. 

- Ruha Benjamin introduces the concept of "viral justice," where joy spreads like a virus, igniting transformation across communities and generations. 

- Eddie S. Glaude Jr. describes joy as aspirational, urging educators and activists to cultivate joy even in imperfect conditions. 

- Tera W. Hunter connects joy to freedom, emphasizing its role in autonomy and self-determination, especially for marginalized communities. 

- Khalil Gibran Muhammad highlights joy as resilience, finding happiness despite pain and hardship, transforming suffering into courage and hope. 

- Lorgia García Peña frames joy as communal power, rooted in solidarity and collective resistance, particularly through collaboration and shared achievements. 

Curmudgucation: Should AI Make Students Care? | National Education Policy Center https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/curmudgucation-should-ai-make-students-care 

Peter Greene's blog post explores the limitations of AI in education, particularly its inability to address students' social and motivational needs. He critiques the idea that AI can effectively personalize learning and argues that motivation in adolescents is deeply tied to social contexts, status, and respect, which AI cannot provide. Greene highlights the disconnect between traditional school structures and students' desire for meaningful social recognition, emphasizing the need for human relationships in education. While acknowledging some valid points in Thomas Arnett's argument, Greene remains skeptical about the viability of AI as a primary educational tool.

### Key Points

- AI can personalize learning but cannot make students care, as motivation is rooted in social connections and respect. 

- Adolescents are evolutionarily wired to seek status and respect, which influences their engagement in school and learning. 

- Schools often fail to provide social payoffs, leading to disengagement, as they offer limited paths for earning status and respect. 

- AI lacks the ability to provide meaningful social relationships or confer status and respect, which limits its effectiveness in education. 

- Greene critiques inflated claims about AI's success in education and emphasizes the importance of human relationships for student motivation. 

THE BOY WHO CRIED CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDAL A FABLE FOR OUR TIMES https://ru4people.substack.com/p/the-boy-who-cried-charter-school 

The article examines the growing scandals surrounding charter schools and voucher misuse in California, highlighting systemic issues of fraud, lack of oversight, and the influence of billionaire-backed privatization agendas. It discusses specific cases of financial misconduct, the failure of regulatory systems, and the consequences for public education funding and quality.

### Key Points

- California, once a leader in public education, now faces widespread charter school scandals fueled by billionaire-backed privatization agendas. 

- A3 Education defrauded taxpayers of $400 million through phantom student schemes, funding offshore accounts and luxury purchases. 

- Ref Rodriguez, a former L.A. School Board president, was implicated in campaign finance violations, exposing the influence of pro-charter forces. 

- Reports reveal systemic misuse of funds, inflated attendance figures, and conflicts of interest among charter operators. 

- Oversight mechanisms are reactive and underfunded, failing to prevent fraud or enforce accountability effectively. 

- Charter enrollment has risen sharply, while public school enrollment and funding have declined, exacerbating resource gaps. 

- Legislative reform has been slow despite repeated scandals, with proposals for fraud-specific audits and stricter oversight still pending. 

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle School Board Race, District 7 - Rava v LaVallee. https://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2025/09/seattle-school-board-race-district-7.html?spref=tw 

Seattle School Board Race, District 7 - Rava v LaVallee

### Key Points

- Jen LaVallee, running for District 7, emphasizes transparency in school closures, community engagement, and budget clarity. She advocates for accessible meetings, community outreach, and better communication from the district. 

- LaVallee supports a transparent Facilities Master Plan and a reevaluation of the district's budgeting process, criticizing enrollment manipulation and lack of clarity. 

- On safety, LaVallee suggests involving communities in decisions about police presence in schools and prioritizing relationship-building between schools and law enforcement. 

- She critiques the SOFG governance model for its narrow focus on student success and advocates for two Board meetings per month. 

- Melissa Westbrook explains why she did not interview Carol Rava, citing Rava's unusual demands for pre-approved questions and control over the narrative, which Westbrook found inappropriate. 

- Comments from readers highlight challenges in engaging diverse communities and question Rava's approach to media interactions. 

Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights

A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!

9-8-25

https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/09/yesterdays-gems-todays-insights-roundup_0844781561.html

The article provides a detailed overview of various societal, political, and educational issues, highlighting the challenges posed by legislation, AI integration in education, climate change, and authoritarian tendencies. It emphasizes advocacy efforts, systemic reforms, and the importance of equity and transparency across multiple sectors.

### Key Points  

- Texas's SB 12 prohibits schools from providing medical, psychiatric, and psychological treatment without parental consent, even for basic first aid.   

- The law creates barriers for abused children, as it gives abusive parents veto power over medical attention or counseling, further endangering vulnerable kids.   

- Sweeping “parental rights” laws enable harmful outcomes, including denying critical medical interventions or empowering abusive parents.   

- Proposed solutions include repealing SB 12, shifting to opt-out consent models, protecting confidential adolescent care, and adopting a “best interests of the child” standard.   

- Federal education funding controversies included the Trump administration releasing funds after lawsuits and proposed budget cuts affecting vulnerable students.   

- Digital infrastructure issues persist, with over 40% of schools lacking internet access, despite AI's increasing role in classrooms.   

- Climate models have accurately predicted global warming effects, showcasing evidence in atmospheric and oceanic changes.   

- Criticism of Stephen Miller’s political actions and influence, including his portrayal as a "black-hearted bureaucrat."   

- Education-focused posts address public school privatization, funding cuts, teacher struggles, and the fight for equitable education.   

- AI integration in classrooms is growing, emphasizing teacher training and adaptation to technology.   

- GOP leaders criticize crime in Blue states but overlook higher homicide rates in Red states, advocating for collaborative efforts to reduce violence nationwide.   

- Advocacy for contacting elected representatives to address issues like healthcare, education cuts, and civil rights concerns during the current administration.   

- Florida's Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) are highlighted as mechanisms prone to abuse of taxpayer funds.   

- Social justice movements, including Black Lives Matter and school safety concerns, receive coverage.   

- Trump’s authoritarian tendencies and misuse of federal authority are critiqued, with concerns about his dictatorial ambitions.   

- Writing as an act of resistance against oppression is emphasized, quoting figures like Ambrose Bierce and Albert Camus.   

- Advocacy for the bipartisan "Epstein Files Transparency Act" urges readers to take action and contact Congress.   

- Censorship efforts in libraries reflect broader conservative politics influencing public institutions.   

- AI tools like Gemini, Grok, Copilot, and ChatGPT-4 provided differing insights on education news, showcasing their strengths and limitations. 

THE BOY WHO CRIED CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDAL: A MODERN FABLE OF WOLVES, BILLIONAIRES, AND THE DEVOURING OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

 

THE BOY WHO CRIED CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDAL

A MODERN FABLE OF WOLVES, BILLIONAIRES, AND THE DEVOURING OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

Once upon a time, in the not-so-fairy-tale land of California, there lived a boy, his parents, his teachers, and a chorus of education scholars, unions, and organizations. They all shared a common fear: a wolf was prowling, and its name was Charter School Scandal. For years, they cried, “Wolf! Wolf!” pointing to the beast of privatization that was gobbling up public education funds. But unlike the fable where the boy’s cries were ignored until it was too late, in this tale, the wolf didn’t just eat the boy—it kept snacking, village by village, school by school, until the very idea of public education teetered on the brink of extinction. The wolf, it seems, had billionaire oligarchs as its trainers, and they were feeding it well.

The Wolf’s Feast: Charter Schools and Vouchers

For over 15 years, voices like Diane Ravitch, the Network for Public Education (NPE), and countless parents have been sounding the alarm on charter schools and voucher programs, warning of fraud, mismanagement, and a deliberate dismantling of public education. Ravitch’s recent post, “Sacramento: How Could a Charter School Misuse $180 Million in Two Years?” is just the latest in a long line of cries, spotlighting yet another scandal where tens of millions in public funds vanished into the maws of unaccountable charter operators. The A3 Education scandal, where executives siphoned off over $400 million through “phantom” student enrollments, is a grotesque highlight—a scheme so audacious it involved enrolling kids from summer sports camps into fake academic programs to rake in state cash. And yet, despite guilty pleas and promises of restitution, the culprits walked away with house arrest, leaving the public to pick up the tab.

The pattern is as old as California’s 1992 Charter Schools Act, which birthed a system now boasting over 1,200 charter schools and $6 billion in annual public funding. But with great money comes great mischief. The state’s oversight is a patchwork quilt of good intentions and gaping holes, relying on self-reporting, whistleblowers, and the occasional audit by the Financial Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT). The result? Over $149 million in documented fraud and waste, with estimates suggesting the real figure could be much higher. From the Celerity Education Group’s luxury travel sprees to the Tri-Valley Learning Corporation’s $67 million misadventure, the stories pile up like unpaid bills on a broke district’s desk.

The Billionaire Pack: Wolves in Philanthropic Clothing

Enter the billionaire oligarchs, the wolf-whisperers of this tale. Names like Bill Gates, Eli Broad, and Reed Hastings loom large, their foundations and fortunes flooding California’s elections from the statehouse to local school boards. Through super PACs, front organizations like the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA), and a blooming field of 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) nonprofits, they’ve turned democracy into a playground for privatization. The CCSA, with its war chest of billionaire bucks, has pushed charter expansion with the zeal of a televangelist, spending millions to elect pro-charter candidates and block oversight reforms. Eli Broad’s leaked plan to capture 50% of Los Angeles’ school market for charters was less a strategy than a declaration of war on public education.

California, the fourth-largest economy in the world, should be a beacon of educational excellence. Instead, it ranks a dismal 30th in per-pupil funding, flirting with the bottom of the national pile. Once a global leader in education, the state now starves its public schools while charters feast on public dollars, often with little to show for it. Low graduation rates, selective enrollment, and questionable academic outcomes are the norm for many charters, yet the money keeps flowing, and the oversight remains a whisper in the wind.

Heroes and Whistles: The Resistance

Amid this feeding frenzy, heroes like Sharon Higgins of Oakland have emerged, wielding nothing but determination and a self-funded website. Higgins, a parent turned activist, documented the Broad Foundation’s takeover of her local schools, exposing charter scandals and the shadowy Gulen charter movement. Her work, driven by a refusal to let billionaire agendas steamroll her community, stands as a testament to the power of one voice against a cacophony of cash.

The Network for Public Education, led by figures like Ravitch and Carol Burris, continues the fight, publishing reports that detail the decline of the charter movement—closures, disillusionment, and financial carnage from 1998 to 2022. Their critiques of reports like CREDO’s, which often paint charters in rosy hues, reveal a truth the billionaire pack would rather bury: many charters underperform, cherry-pick students, and drain resources from public schools. NPE’s call for accountability echoes Higgins’ mission, but both face a Sisyphean task against a well-funded foe.

The Scandal That Keeps on Giving

The A3 scandal is a case study in everything wrong with California’s charter system. Executives Sean McManus and Jason Schrock paid private schools and youth programs to enroll students who never set foot in their classrooms, funneling millions into offshore accounts and luxury properties. Small, cash-strapped districts were bribed with oversight fees to look the other way, while students were shuffled between online schools without parental consent to double-dip on state funds. The fallout? A $210 million restitution deal, a temporary moratorium on virtual charters, and a task force that’s more Band-Aid than cure. Meanwhile, the Inspire charter network overreported attendance, Ezequiel Tafoya Alvarado Academy’s director splurged on personal expenses, and Ref Rodriguez, a Los Angeles School Board president, faced felony charges for laundering campaign funds to secure a pro-charter majority.

These aren’t isolated incidents—they’re symptoms of a system designed to fail. Audits are reactive, not proactive. Oversight agencies are understaffed and underpowered. Fraud-specific audits are as rare as a unicorn in a standardized test. And while reports like “Fraud and Waste in California’s Charter Schools” and “Risking Public Money: California Charter School Fraud” scream for reform—mandatory fraud risk assessments, regular audits, empowered local boards—the billionaire pack and their CCSA minions keep the legislature in a chokehold.

The Moral of the Story

In the original fable, the boy’s cries went unheeded, and he paid the price. In this modern retelling, the cries are heard but ignored, drowned out by the clinking of billionaire coins. The wolf, fattened on public funds, grows bolder with each scandal, each unpunished theft, each school board election bought and paid for. California’s public schools, once the envy of the world, are starving, while charters and vouchers feast on their remains.

The moral? When the wolf is backed by billionaires, crying out isn’t enough. It’s time for the village to stop begging for accountability and start demanding it—through legislation, through grassroots resistance, through heroes like Sharon Higgins and organizations like NPE. Otherwise, the wolf won’t stop until the village is gone, and public education is just a memory, sold off one school at a time to the highest bidder.

Sources:

Sacramento: How Could a Charter School Misuse $180 Million in Two Years? https://dianeravitch.net/2025/09/08/sacramento-how-could-a-charter-school-misuse-180-million-in-two-years/ via @dianeravitch 

Network for Public Education https://networkforpubliceducation.org/

“Fraud and Waste in California’s Charter Schools” by In the Public Interest https://www.inthepublicinterest.org/wp-content/uploads/ITPI_CA_Charter_Fraud_Mar2018.pdf

“Risking Public Money: California Charter School Fraud” https://populardemocracy.org/sites/default/files/Charter-Schools-California-Report-b.pdf

A LOS ANGELES SCHOOL BOARD SCANDAL COULD UPEND PLANS BY CHARTER BACKERS TO TAKE OVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS Pro-charter school advocates could lose their grip on the L.A. school board, as its president faces felony charges for laundering his own money into his 2015 campaign. https://theintercept.com/2017/09/27/la-school-board-ref-rodriguez-money-laundering-charter-schools/

THE BOY WHO CRIED CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDAL A FABLE FOR OUR TIMES https://ru4people.substack.com/p/the-boy-who-cried-charter-school