Schools Matter: States Use ESSA to Accelerate Online and Blended Classrooms

Schools Matter: States Use ESSA to Accelerate Online and Blended Classrooms:

States Use ESSA to Accelerate Online and Blended Classrooms

When the ESEA was boiled down into a racist states rights version, labeled ESSA, and quickly passed, it was Diane Ravitch and her loyal ghostwriters who hailed the new law as a huge success. 

She even gave Lamar Alexander's office nine (9) separate opportunities to sell the high tech and charter incentive stimulus bill as the greatest federal funding event since 1965, when ESEA was originally passed.

The world found out later, of course, that ESSA had been the preferred deal cut by the Clintons and their corporate funders.  AFT, NEA, FairTest, and NPE had been trotted out to sell it, and sell it they did.  

Now the chickens are coming home to roost, and we hear nothing from Ravitch and the Clintonians about how god-awful this ESSA piece of dreck really is. 

Ravitch and her sheeple are spending all their time jabbing at their DeVos voodoo dolls and poring over their extended blog posts that try as they might to distinguish bad privatization (for profit online charters) from good privatization (nonprofit blended charters).

Will someone ask Ravitch, Monty, Randi, Lily, and the rest of the zombie resistance gang to explain once more why they supported ESSA?  Or the benefits of hooking up children to more alienating and isolating total surveillance computer screens, even as their teachers wander the classroom feeling inadequate, guilty, and cut off from their students? 

New report linked here from Yahoo Finance page on states' plan to expand depersonalized learning through ESSA.  Schools Matter: States Use ESSA to Accelerate Online and Blended Classrooms:

Stop HR 610 | Real Learning CT

Stop HR 610 | Real Learning CT:

Stop HR 610

The new administration’s attack on public education has begun, and we need to take action to stop it.

In late January, HR 610 was introduced by Steve King of Iowa, with representatives from Maryland, Texas, and Arizona signing on.

HR 610, the School Choice Act, will eliminate the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, which was passed as a part of Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty”.  Federal funds that are now given to schools will be given to parents who choose to enroll their children in private schools or to homeschool their children. Doing that will give upper middle class parents who can almost afford private schools for their kids help in paying the steep tuition of private schools and will leave public schools minus adequate funds to provide for the education of the children remaining in them.

HR 610 will give taxpayer money to parents to send their children to religious schools. That is a main intent of the bill. Children will be given vouchers to attend religious schools like the one that Donald Trump praised when he visited it. You can watch this video of the children at that school pledging allegiance to The Bible.

HR 610 will also roll back nutritional standards for free lunches for poor children.

With HR 610, the opportunity gap between the haves and the have-nots will widen in our nation. Education as the great equalizer will cease to exist.

Please contact your Member of Congress and object to HR 610.

It is very clear that bills like HR 610 will be supported by both the U.S. Department of Education and the White House. In fact, it appears that every alternative to democratically controlled public schools will be favored. A clear bias against public schools exists.Stop HR 610 | Real Learning CT:

Current Status "SHELVED" in the House Education and the Workforce Committee

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H.R.610 - To distribute Federal funds for elementary and secondary education in the form of vouchers for eligible students and to repeal a certain rule relating to nutrition standards in schools.115th Congress (2017-2018) | Get alerts

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Sponsor:	Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-4] (Introduced 01/23/2017)
Committees:	House - Education and the Workforce
Latest Action:	01/23/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.  (All Actions)

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2. Passed House
3. Passed Senate
4. To President
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All Actions H.R.610 — 115th Congress (2017-2018)All Bill Information (Except Text)

Bill History – Congressional Record References

Teacher to DeVos: No, I’m not ‘hostile’ to change. We just don’t agree on the changes schools need. - The Washington Post

Teacher to DeVos: No, I’m not ‘hostile’ to change. We just don’t agree on the changes schools need. - The Washington Post:

Teacher to DeVos: No, I’m not ‘hostile’ to change. We just don’t agree on the changes schools need.

Pennsylvania teacher Peter Greene has a message for Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

DeVos, a Michigan billionaire whose nomination by President Trump sparked unprecedented opposition for an education secretary, has been speaking out recently about her critics and about protesters who greeted her at a D.C. public school when she visited last week. On Feb. 15, she gave a speech at the Magnet Schools of America 2017 National Policy Training Conference and said:

“Last Friday, a handful of protesters tried to block my entrance into Jefferson Middle School Academy here in D.C. While I eventually made it in, and had very constructive conversations with Chancellor Wilson, many D.C. administrative leaders, some terrific teachers and Principal Dohmann, the protesters’ behavior is a reflection of the way some seek to treat our education system — by keeping kids in and new thinking out. Friday’s incident demonstrates just how hostile some people are to change and to new ideas.”

Some of those people beg to differ. Green,  a veteran teacher of English in a small town in Pennsylvania, is a critic of DeVos and her passion for school choice over traditional public schools, in which he teaches. He published the following post on his Curmudgucation blog.

By Peter Greene

Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos spoke recently to a gathering of magnet school folks, and opened up by suggesting that “some people” are “hostile” to change.

I just want to be clear. I am not hostile to change. In fact, there are some changes that I would love to see.

[DeVos: Critics want to ‘make my life a living hell’]

I would love to see a change in the rhetoric about failing schools. Instead of declaring that we will “rescue” students from failing schools and offering lifeboats for a handful of students, I’d Teacher to DeVos: No, I’m not ‘hostile’ to change. We just don’t agree on the changes schools need. - The Washington Post:

solidaridad: Schools Matter: The Monica Garcia - Betsy DeVos connection

solidaridad: Schools Matter: The Monica Garcia - Betsy DeVos connection:

Schools Matter: The Monica Garcia - Betsy DeVos connection

“Monica Garcia believes in… choice… She expanded charter schools” — Michael R. Bloomberg and A. Jerrold Perenchio’s Coalition for School Reform

Extremist Betsy DeVos was a long time favorite of neoliberal corporate education reform oriented Liberals and reactionary organizations like Democrats for Education Reform, so it's surprising that there's a little bit of consternation coming from some Democrats over Trump's ED pick. On the other hand, right-wing extremists like Campbell Brown seemingly can't contain their joy over the arch-reactionary appointment. Ultimately DeVos's school privatization policies won't differ substantively from those of the doltish Arne Duncan or John King. She'll just get to our rulers' end goal of eliminating public education quicker than the Bush and Obama Administrations were able to.

Los Angeles has had its own Betsy DeVos for many years in the form of anti-public school politician Monica Garcia. Garcia is running for a third term, and her long record of expanding revenue streams and market share for the lucrative charter school industry is legendary. Here are some of DeVos and Garcia's connections and shared values:

• Betsy DeVos financially supports, and was on the board of publisher (The 74) of the dubious "LA School Report", a high-profile blog that has provided non-stop favorable publicity and propaganda for Moníca García since its inception.
• DeVos has made sizable contributions to organizations that in turn made campaign contributions to SuperPAC Independent Expenditures supporting García's elections. Follow the money to organization like the now defunct Coalition for School Reform, and Great Public Schools Los Angeles, and also the current CCSA run Parent Teacher Alliance dark money SuperPAC.
• DeVos funds the organizations espousing racist "school choice" policies from which García derives many of her policy positions and talking points.
• DeVos and García openly support religious, and religious affiliated organizations running charter chains. DeVos with the various Christian Identity and white supremacist organizations she's associated with, and García, whose long time relationship with The Pacifica Institute and the shadowy Gülen network are well documented.

solidaridad: Schools Matter: The Monica Garcia - Betsy DeVos connection:

Author; Research Professor Diane Ravitch - Watch Tavis Smiley on PBS |

Watch Full Episodes Online of Tavis Smiley on PBS | Author; Research Professor Diane Ravitch:

Author; Research Professor Diane Ravitch

Former Assistant Secretary of Education and current president of The Network For Public Education joins us to discuss the uncertain future of America's education system.



 Watch Full Episodes Online of Tavis Smiley on PBS | Author; Research Professor Diane Ravitch:

Republicans Suggest Federal Role in Education Be Limited to Bribery | gadflyonthewallblog

Republicans Suggest Federal Role in Education Be Limited to Bribery | gadflyonthewallblog:

Republicans Suggest Federal Role in Education Be Limited to Bribery

Hey! Let’s repeal the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965!

Let’s hobble the Department of Education!

Let’s make the federal role just handing out bundles of cash to private and parochial schools!

That’s apparently how you improve public education. You make it private.

And you completely eliminate any protections for students’ civil rights.

THIS is the brave new world of Trumpian education policy. It’s called HR 610 and was introduced by Republican Congressman Steve King of Iowa.

You may Remember King. He introduced an amendment in the U.S. House that would have prevented Harriet Tubman from replacing President Andrew Jackson on the front of the $20 bill. Sure she was an abolitionist, women’s suffragist and hero who rescued scores of black people from slavery in the Underground Railroad. Why would we want her to replace a former slave trader and architect of the Indian Removal Act and Trail of Tears!?

His new piece of wonderful legislation – not at all written by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) – would turn the U.S. Department of Education into merely an authorizer of block grants to qualified states to participate in a nationwide voucher program.

The department would give out money to local districts to give to parents to home school or send their children to private schools.

In effect, the federal government would become a booster for private and parochial schools. Uncle Sam would be offering free cash to private interests, corporations, Republicans Suggest Federal Role in Education Be Limited to Bribery | gadflyonthewallblog:

UPDATE: Washington State Charter Law Upheld - Seattle Schools Community Forum:

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State Charter Law Upheld:

Washington State Charter Law Upheld

Update: the Times has an article on this ruling.  Here's part of my comment in response to something from the Washington State Charter Schools Association:

"Charter public schools have been given a stamp of approval from Washington voters, the state Legislature, and now the state’s judicial system,” he said in a prepared statement. "

This is a factually untrue statement (prepared or not). Why? Because the courts only rule on constitutional issues and, in fact, both the WA Supreme Court AND the King County Superior Court rulings both said that neither case was about whether charters work or are good or bad. 

They ruled that the law was constitutional. That's it and Mr. Franta knows it. To say that there is some "stamp of approval" by the courts undermines our judicial system. Maybe Mr. Franta is taking his cue from the Trump administration.
End of update

Judge John Chun of King County Superior Court today ruled in favor of the defendants in upholding the current charter law. 

I will say in reading the ruling, I see many places where the judge further validates other rulings and leaves the door wide open for other lawsuits (which I predict will come to pass.) 

It's a big win for charter supporters but I don't think it now leaves anyone in a relaxed place.  Or rather, no one should take this ruling to be the end.

From the ruling (all bold mine):

"Fourth, and finally, Plaintiffs argue in significant part regarding the ways in which the Act’s implementation has led, and may lead, to unconstitutional results. Such arguments, however, are more properly brought as as-applied challenges. And this Order does not foreclose such a claim."

"Plaintiffs’ diversion claim lacks ripeness.  Plaintiffs’ argument rests on speculation that the Opportunity Pathways account  evenue will not be able to cover the cost of the CSA by the 2021-2022 school year, and that restricted funds will thereafter be used. However, it is undisputed that, at this time, lottery revenue from the Opportunity Pathways account is the only funding source for charter schools. It is similarly undisputed that such funding is not a restricted revenue source for common schools. If, in the future, the State attempts to use funds allocated for common schools in violation of article IX, section 2, then the issue will be ripe for consideration."

One other interesting item is that the judge says, over and over, 

"To find any deviation from common schools a violation of article IX, section 2 conflates the common school system with the public school system."

"It is undisputed that charter schools are not common schools."

"It is further undisputed that charter schools cannot access funds restricted for common schools."

That's good because it continues to enforce that charter schools are not, and never will be in the state of Washington, common schools. 

It will be interesting to see where the dollars will come for 40 charter schools. 

We know it can't be the General Fund so it will be fascinating to see how the Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State Charter Law Upheld:

UPDATE: Want to decide who to vote for in the LA School Board election? Read their answers to KPCC's survey

Want to decide who to vote for in the LA School Board election? Read their answers to KPCC's survey | 89.3 KPCC:

Want to decide who to vote for in the LA School Board election? Read their answers to KPCC's survey

KPCC's LA school board candidate survey: Carl Petersen, District 2

by Carl Petersen / 4min

Carl Petersen is running for the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. Petersen hopes to represent District 2, which runs from Koreatown through much of east L.A.; Credit: Campaign Photo Carl Petersen Carl Petersen is running for the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. Petersen hopes to represent District 2, which runs from Koreatown throu

KPCC's LA school board candidate survey: Imelda Padilla, District 6

by Imelda Padilla / 4min

Imelda Padilla is running for the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election.; Credit: Kyle Stokes/KPCC Imelda Padilla Imelda Padilla is running for the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. Padilla hopes to represent District 6, which covers the east San Fernando Valley. Padilla is one of six candidates running for the District 6 seat. Click here

KPCC's LA school board candidate survey: Lisa Alva, District 2

by Lisa Alva / 3h

Lisa Alva is running for the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. Alva hopes to represent District 2, which runs from Koreatown through much of east L.A.; Credit: Campaign Photo/Facebook Lisa Alva Lisa Alva is running for the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. Alva hopes to represent District 2, which runs from Koreatown through much of

KPCC's LA school board candidate survey: Allison Holdorff Polhill, District 4

by Allison Holdorff Polhill / 3h

Allison Holdorff Polhill is running for the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. Holdorff Polhill hopes to represent District 4, which covers much of west L.A., Hollywood and portions of the southwest San Fernando Valley.; Credit: Campaign Photo Allison Holdorff Polhill Allison Holdorff Polhill is running for the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary

KPCC's LA school board candidate survey: Steve Zimmer, District 4

by Steve Zimmer / 3h

Steve Zimmer is running for re-election to the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. Zimmer currently represents District 4, which covers much of west L.A., Hollywood and portions of the southwest San Fernando Valley.; Credit: Campaign Photo Steve Zimmer Steve Zimmer is running for re-election to the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. Zim

KPCC's LA school board candidate survey: Nick Melvoin, District 4

by Nick Melvoin / 3h

Nick Melvoin is running for the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. Melvoin hopes to represent District 4, which covers much of west L.A., Hollywood and portions of the southwest San Fernando Valley.; Credit: Kyle Stokes/KPCC Nick Melvoin Nick Melvoin is running for the Los 

KPCC's LA school board candidate survey: Mónica García, District 2

by Mónica García / 4min

Mónica García is running for re-election to the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. García currently represents District 2, which runs from Koreatown through much of east L.A. ; Credit: Campaign Photo Mónica García Mónica García is running for re-election to the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. García currently represents District 2,

Want to decide who to vote for in the LA School Board election? Read their answers to KPCC's survey | 89.3 KPCC:

Betsy DeVos Broke the Ed. Reform Coalition – For Now | Daniel Katz, Ph.D.

Betsy DeVos Broke the Ed. Reform Coalition – For Now | Daniel Katz, Ph.D.:

Betsy DeVos Broke the Ed. Reform Coalition – For Now

When Betsy DeVos was confirmed as United States Secretary of Education, she required an unprecedented tie-breaker vote by Vice President Mike Pence.  This was because all 48 Senate Democrats voted against her along with 2 Republicans.  A barrage of phone calls from constituents, her demonstrable ignorance about federal education policy, her utter lack of experience with running a large organization, and unanswered questions about her financial conflicts of interest could not scuttle her nomination – but it got closer than any cabinet nominee in recent memory.  Betsy DeVos took her office with a the only bipartisan consensus being the one against her.

On the one hand, DeVos presented a very reasonable target for opposition.  She really has no relevant experience whatsoever.  She is an ideologue rather than a expert who has made her “name” in education by leveraging her inherited wealth into buying the votes of state legislators.  While many school reform advocates favor shifting tax money to privately managed entities, DeVos appears to see the privatization of public money as a goal in and of itself without regard for outcomes.  Advocacy groups funded by her actually scuttled legislation in Michigan that would have kept failing charter schools from expanding, and she has demonstrated no interest in holding the overwhelmingly for profit charter sector in her home state accountable to much of anything, leaving Michigan sending $1 billion annually into a sector rife with self dealing and absent any oversight worthy of the word.  DeVos favored policies have wrought additional havoc on Detroit Public Schools, leaving children wandering a landscape with a glut of seats which are distributed so unequally that getting to a school consumes hours of commuting time and where families are encouraged to “vote with their feet” – even if it means changing schools multiple times a year.

And if that record were not enough, DeVos gave Senators plenty of reasons to oppose her during her testimony which was peppered with evasions and displays suggesting she knows painfully little about federal education policy.  She whiffed a question on one of the central policy issues of the past decade.  She bobbed and weaved to avoid talking about accountability.  She appeared to have no knowledge about federal laws regarding educating students with disabilities.  She was pathetically glib about the question of guns in schools.  And when Senators sent her written questions to answer in further detail after her hearing, she plagiarized some of  her responses.  On top of all of that, DeVos was confirmed with votes from a raft of Republican Senators who reply on her cash for their Betsy DeVos Broke the Ed. Reform Coalition – For Now | Daniel Katz, Ph.D.: