One of Liberty Hill's grantee partners, InnerCity Struggle has just issued a statement regarding today's LAUSD vote that would open as many as 200 public schools to private contractors. They are supportive, provided certain amendments are made. Read their statement by following the link below.
With my co-host Howard Blume, education reporter at The L.A. Times, I produced a radio program last week about this proposal. Listen to the radio program on today's LAUSD vote.
Howard has just posted this dispatch from LAUSD headquarters.
People are already gathering outside the Los Angeles Board of Education building this morning in anticipation of a vote today on a plan that would allow outside groups to take control of 50 new campuses scheduled to open over the next four years. The proposal has been expanded to include more than 200 existing schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District that have repeatedly failed to meet state and federal improvement targets. These schools could be shut down and then converted to charter schools or turned over to outside groups.
For days competing camps have battled over different versions of the proposal, which was originally introduced by school board member Yolie Flores Aguilar. Seeking to stop or radically change the resolution have been employee unions, led by United Teachers Los Angeles, as well as some community groups and critics from other arenas. Supporters of the resolution include charter school operators — who could bid for the new campuses — along with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and an array of community groups and civic leaders. The mayor has made the measure a centerpiece of his school agenda for his second term. He’s expected to appear today at a rally organized by charter schools. Backers of the resolution plan a noon rally outside the district's downtown headquarters. Opponents also are expected to turn out in large numbers. The board is scheduled to take up the matter at 2 p.m.
Tuesday afternoon update: The Board approved the proposal 6-1.
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