Update x3: MICHIGAN: HOLY F*CKING SH*T.

[G_j]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/11/28/1165527/-MICHIGAN-HOLY-F-CKING-SH-T-Spread-the-word-on-this-NOW

Hyperbole? Hair on Fire? Sky is Falling?

Absolutely.

If you or anyone you know and care about live in Michigan, or if you care whatsoever about the public school system in this country--or, for that matter, education of our children in general--I urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to read up on Michigan State House Bills 6004 & 5923, and State Senate Bills 1358 & 620.

If you think I'm over-hyping this issue, read the following letter, posted earlier today on the Bloomfield Hills School District website by superintendent Rob Glass. I repeat: This was posted by the superintendent of the BLOOMFIELD HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT.

As in, one of the wealthiest and most Republican areas in Michigan.

As in, Mitt Romney's home town, also the home town of Cranbrook.

Believe me, Rob Glass is NOT known for panicking or over-hyping issues, and I guarantee you that he's gonna catch a lot of flack for speaking out so strongly on a political issue--especially speaking out against a series of bills being pushed--HARD--by Republican Governor Rick Snyder and the Republican-held state legislature.

An urgent call to action from Superintendent Rob Glass

Posted: November 28, 2012

Dear Parents and Citizens: This is an urgent call to action affecting your Bloomfield Hills Schools and public education in Michigan. A package of bills designed to corporatize and dismantle public education is being hastily pushed through this current ‘lame duck’ legislative session. If we do not take immediate action, I believe great damage will be done to public education, including our school system. We have just three weeks to take action before it’s too late. The bills are:

House Bill 6004 and Senate Bill 1358: Would expand a separate and statewide school district (the EAA) overseen by a governor-appointed chancellor and functioning outside the authority of the State Board of Education or state school superintendent. These schools are exempt from the same laws and quality measures of community-governed public schools. The EAA can seize unused school buildings (built and financed by local taxpayers) and force sale or lease to charter, non-public or EAA schools.

House Bill 5923: Creates several new forms of charter and online schools with no limit on the number. Bundled with HB 6004/SB1358, many of these schools could be created by the EAA. Public schools are not allowed to create these new schools unless they charter them. Selective enrollment/dis-enrollment policies will likely lead to greater segregation in our public schools. This bill creates new schools without changing the overall funding available, further diluting resources for community-governed public schools.

Senate Bill 620: Known as the ‘Parent Trigger’ bill, this would allow the lowest achieving 5% of schools to be converted to a charter school while allowing parents or teachers to petition for the desired reform model. This bill will not directly affect our district, but disenfranchises voters, ends their local control, and unconstitutionally hands taxpayer-owned property over to for-profit companies. Characterized as parent-empowerment, this bill does little to develop deep, community-wide parent engagement and organization.

I’ve never considered myself a conspiracy theorist—until now. This package of bills is the latest in a yearlong barrage of ideologically-driven bills designed to weaken and defund locally-controlled public education, handing scarce taxpayer dollars over to for-profit entities operating under a different set of rules. I believe this is fundamentally wrong. State School Superintendent Mike Flanagan and State Board of Education President John Austin and others have also expressed various concerns, as has the Detroit Free Press.

We embrace change, innovation and personalization.We’re passionate about providing choices and options for students. We compete strongly in the educational marketplace. We must never stop improving. This is not a laissez faire plea to defend the status quo. This is about making sure this tidal wave of untested legislation does not sweep away the valued programs our local community has proudly built into its cherished school system. If you are concerned about these bills, please do the following:

--Attend one of the following grassroots legislative meetings.

​--Stay informed by registering for updates through ‘Capwiz.’

--Call and e-mail your legislator and respectfully ask them to OPPOSE these bills (see contact information below).

--​Enlist ten others to do the same, and please remain active.

​Public education in Michigan can and must remain strong, but it will only happen if we act NOW.

Sincerely, Rob Glass, Superintendent

Legislative Contact information:

Governor Rick Snyder
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, MI 48909
Email Address: [e-mail]
Tel: [phone] (Constituent Services)

41st State Rep District (Troy) Representative Marty Knollenberg (R)
N0890 House Office Building
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909
Email Address: [e-mail]
Tel: [phone]

13th State Senate District (City BH) Senator John Pappageorge (R)
1020 Farnum Building
P.O. Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909-7536
Email Address: [e-mail]
Tel: [phone]

40th State Rep District (Blfld. Twp/City) Representative Chuck Moss (R)
S0889 House Office Building
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909
Email: [e-mail]
Tel: [phone]

15th State Senate District (West Bloomfield) Senator Mike Kowall (R)
305 Farnum Building
P.O. Box 30036 Lansing, MI 48909
Email: [e-mail]
Tel: [phone]

39th State Rep District (West Bloomfield) Representative Lisa Brown (D)
S0888 House Office Building
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
Email: [e-mail]
Tel: [phone]

[greenman3610]

1. thanks. this is super important

[Tutonic]

2. Wow! just wow....

and K and R.

[byeya]

3. RepubliKKKan capitalism at its most voracious

[femrap]

21. ALEC legislation,

I assume. When will they be outlawed?

[Dont call me Shirley]

58. ALEC should be RICOed

[G_j]

61. United States of ALEC

Moyers & Co. United States of ALEC
http://billmoyers.com/episode/preview-the-united-states-of-alec/

Preview: United States of ALEC
September 25, 2012

This week’s show explores a scheme involving state politicians and powerful corporations to remake America, one state house at a time.

[femrap]

77. I saw that

show. I love Bill Moyers and his in depth reporting. I remember the first time I saw Elizabeth Warren was on his show.

[Chellee]

4. K & R

[riderinthestorm]

5. Wow! DUers Madflo, Proud2blibinKansas and others in the education field have been warning about this

on DU for many, many months. They've been way ahead of the curve on this issue. Its incredibly revealing that this high powered SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, who should be on the front lines of education initiatives, sounds so damn surprised.

His admission that he's not a conspiracy theorist but NOW he feels as though there's been a sustained assault on education that's lasted for a very, very long time... makes him sound like an idiot.

Thanks for posting GJ. I'm not in Michigan but will happily give this a K&R to keep this on the top of the page today.

[G_j]

6. +1000

[loudsue]

23. These fools don't realize how dangerous the tea party is until it hits home with them

That is why it is so dangerous to have corporations in charge of everything (like the Koch brothers). The republican party in general is stupid, and should never be allowed to run government.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

38. thr puke party at the highest levels isnt stupid; it's fascist

The middle class and lower class rank and file conservative issue voters are the stupid ones.

Surreptitious legislation handing over taxpayer funds to corporatists? It takes sociopathic intelligence to conspire to do that! Hence, fascists.

[stillwaiting]

51. You said it! nt

[Blue_Tires]

24. +1

[sabrina 1]

55. Yes they have and getting a lot of flack for telling the truth from certain

quarters also. This is just shocking frankly and I hope word gets around to enough people to put a stop to it.

Our country is being hi-jacked by Corporate Thugs, every public fund is being raided for profit. SS is next and they are not even hiding it anymore.

[hobbit709]

85. And remember how much flack they got from some here on DU when they said it.

[Greybnk48]

7. K&R n/t

[Aerows]

8. Wow

That sounds awful. K & R for all the folks in Michigan to see this.

[SoapBox]

9. K & R!

[FightForMichigan]

10. Please get involved

We're working hard on this today. Call your legislators and tell them to protect our neighborhood schools and local democracy by voting no on HB 6004. The committee session on this just wrapped up and it might move to the House floor today.

[FightForMichigan]

12. Not today, but soon

There's still time to get involved and stop this bill, but House Republicans have made it a priority for lame duck. Please speak up and tell them to vote no!

Between this, "right to work" (for less), a new emergency manager law and the possible creation of a health exchange, a lot is going on in Lansing. Don't let them push through a barage of laws that are going to hurt the people of this state. Speak up!

[snappyturtle]

11. As I watch the destruction of public education I envision a Charles Dicken's

like existence for families with children...families who are not affluent. The best case scenario in this instance would be an apprenticeship for the struggling "student". imho

[Cal Carpenter]

13. ...and then they came for the wealthy white folks

and suddenly everyone gave a shit....

LOL, sorry, I couldn't resist.

Thanks for the link G_j!

[gollygee]

14. K&R

My kids go to public school in Michigan and this scares the heck out of me.

[FightForMichigan]

17. Please call the legislators in your area

If there's a lot of push-back, they may think twice. It'll be hard, but at this point, it's still hung up in committee. Let's keep it there.

Find legislator contact info here: http://www.house.mi.gov/MHRPublic/

[gollygee]

20. I did, by both phone and email

I hope it helps. My rep is pretty conservative. But maybe they're the ones who need to hear from us the most.

[northoftheborder]

15. Blatant authoritarian fascism. How dumb do they think people are?

I hope the people of Michigan rise up in alarm and rage, and take back the Capitol Wisconsin style.

[dorkulon]

53. They got themselves elected. People really are pretty dumb. /nt

[zeemike]

16. Looks like the John Birch Society is about to achieve it's goal.

The destruction of public education.

[Chorophyll]

18. Kick.

This is really scary, and not just for Michiganders.

[TheBlackAdder]

19. Quick - Set yourself up as a charter school and tap into that cash.

Some of the folks in NJ and a pile in PA went on a cash bender buying charter schools and are now plugging into the school voucher program which is crushing local towns.

These small charters, which follow a separate set of standards, so they cannot be compared to public schools for at least 5 years are pulling small groups of kids from each elementary and middle school. When 3-4 kids are pulled from each grade level, from each school, the schools cannot consolidate classes or reduce costs... yet, the $12K - $15K of voucher money goes to the charter school, along with their $800 transportation allowance.

This means that each school will suffer a $100-$200K cut in funding - while they can't do anything to reduce costs.

They must go to the town and increase property taxes on the local residents.

These charters, mostly religious, use volunteers or low-paid 'teachers' and the charter owner keeps the savings.

===

Better yet, set yourself up as a virtual school. It will cost you no more tham $8K a student and you get to pocket the rest!

[KansDem]

22. K&R from Kansas

Go get 'em!!!

[Smilo]

25. K&R - if you are in Michigan take action before

it is too late.

And other states - watch out if you are GOPT "owned" it will be coming to you soon.

[redqueen]

26. Thank you.

K&R

[blackspade]

27. This paragraph sums up a huge part of the problem:

We embrace change, innovation and personalization.We’re passionate about providing choices and options for students. We compete strongly in the educational marketplace. We must never stop improving. This is not a laissez faire plea to defend the status quo. This is about making sure this tidal wave of untested legislation does not sweep away the valued programs our local community has proudly built into its cherished school system.

There should be no 'education marketplace.'
I am sick to death of folks trying to turn every fucking thing in this country into a commodity.

[FiveGoodMen]

31. Absolutely!

Ridiculous that EVERYTHING has to be a business enterprise.

Public institutions are necessary for democracy.

[Tom1960]

49. Thank you...

in an otherwise profoundly sane letter the reference to an "education marketplace" obliterates any notion of the commons.

[geckosfeet]

28. They mean to control the schools for indoctrination purposes.

Last edited Thu Nov 29, 2012, 01:55 PM - Edit history (1)

[reteachinwi]

34. Child labor

In Wisconsin they want to tether high school kids to lathes and foundries, call it vocational education, and the corporations are attempting to get at least part of the state aid from the school for providing the "education." Free, rather, subsidized (who gets gifted?) child labor. Hang on tight.

http://www.morainepark.com/services/business-and-industry/bootcamp/cnc-and-welding-brochure.pdf

[geckosfeet]

40. How clever. This dovetails nicely with my corporate debt bondage theory.

[HiPointDem]

69. "manufacturing boot camps". Please consider turning your post into an OP. Thanks.

[BlueToTheBone]

29. k&r

[dmr]

30. Just put this on Facebook. Now off to make a few phone calls.

Thanks for posting this.

[JohnnyRingo]

32. Working class Repubs voting against their better interests.

Just like here in Ohio where the TeaBillies elected Kasich, they buy into the notion that they can better live free instead of dying by voting for republicans who want to "get the government out of their lives" through killing things like public education.

This trend began under "No Child Left Behind" where vouchers were distributed to subsidize parents who wanted to send their kids to private (white) schools or use home schooling. The result would be decreased enrollment and the eventual closing of their local school buildings. When the subsidies run out, parents would find classes overcrowded and underfunded. Just as Republicans planned. The advantage to the wealthy is they'll pay less to educate someone else's kid.

These ignorant voters think they're on their way to great wealth and will soon be able to benefit from the policies of "small government".

[SpankMe]

33. These bills are Evil with a capital "E"

Legislation like this has a tendency to spill over and be duplicated in other states. So, this is a concern to folks outside of Michigan as well.

What can non-Michiganers do to stop this? Michigan legislators aren't likely to respond to outsiders' complaints.

[alfredo]

35. So the lowest 5% will be converted to charter schools, then the next time the lowest 5%

will be converted to charter schools until there are no public schools left.

[HiPointDem]

72. nothing new in that; similar provisions were in Bush's No Child left behind & obama's race to the

top. districts had to sign on to similar policies to get federal funding.

It's been going on a while all over the country. the only thing that's new here is codifying it into state law & perhaps the speed & lack of other options.

But this *is* federal education policy already.

[alfredo]

74. We can't Let this happen to public education.

[HiPointDem]

76. yes, i've been saying that since i got here and long before. but it *is* happening, it *has been*

happening, & it will *keep* happening unless people organize themselves locally, regionally & nationally to wake the rest of the proles up & fight it.

you don't like paying your local taxes now? you think your local officials spend too much money?

just wait until you're paying them to Gates incorporated & you don't even get to vote on it.

[alfredo]

90. People need to know that privatization removes citizen control of services.

[HiPointDem]

91. yes, they think charters will give them more control, but in fact it will ultimately give them much

less.

[HiPointDem]

83. ^

[lalalu]

36. Democrats also invovled. This is not hyperbole.

This is an assault on public education and not just committed by republicans. People need to get their heads out of the sand over this issue. In the northeast similar actions are being done in major cities and democratic strongholds. Politicians from both parties and many religious organization s,including black churches, have their hands in this. They are either direct or hidden owners of many of these charter, religious, or private schools.

As usual people will probably throw stones or have this alerted. I don't care and I will continue bringing this up until people face the truth.

[alfredo]

37. Rick Snyder wants to end the scourge of rational thought in Michigan.

Last edited Thu Nov 29, 2012, 03:50 PM - Edit history (1)

[WillyT]

39. HUGE K & R !!!

[riderinthestorm]

41. And back to the top with this! Kick nt

[G_j]

42. k

[Ligyron]

43. This IS scary!!

I'm not in Michigan, but I'm with Ya. Besides, I'm worried this ALEC crap will continue to spread unless stomped out. Say they bag it anyway in the Leg. What about not accrediting such schools scholastically?

[ProudProgressiveNow]

44. K&R nt

[dchill]

45. K & R

[catbyte]

46. Oh, God. I thought my state was going to hell. Truth is, it's already there.

[michigandem58]

47. Can they use the school website for political purposes?

I'd be a little concerned - not sure this is legal, at least in Michigan.

[TruthTeller]

80. The Superintendents have more leeway than employees...

I'm in Oakland County and have been to meetings with our local Intermediate School District. Now, if a teacher did this well...there would be a price to pay.

[midnight]

48. ALEC is busy this week in Washington...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021898343


This week in Washington, DC, Jeb Bush's "Foundation for Excellence in Education" (FEE) is meeting just five blocks away from the post-election conference of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the controversial corporate bill mill working on profitizing public education among other legislative changes, but the ties between the two groups are even closer.

Aptly named FEE, Bush's group is backed by many of the same for-profit school corporations that have funded ALEC and vote as equals with its legislators on templates to change laws governing America's public schools. FEE is also bankrolled by many of the same hard-right foundations bent on privatizing public schools that have funded ALEC. And, they have pushed many of the same changes to the law, which benefit their corporate benefactors and satisfy the free market fundamentalism of the billionaires whose tax-deductible charities underwrite the agenda of these two groups.

FEE and ALEC also have had some of the same "experts" as members or staff, part of the revolving door between right-wing groups. They have also collaborated on the annual ALEC education "report card" that grades states' allegiance to their policy agenda higher than actual student performance. That distorted report card also rewards states that push ALEC's beloved union-busting measures while giving low grades to states with students who actually perform best on standardized knowledge tests. As Dustin Bielke wrote for PRWatch earlier this year:

Imagine getting a report card from your teacher and finding out that you were graded not on how well you understood the course material or scored on the tests and assignments, but rather on to what extent you agreed with your teacher's strange public policy positions. That is the best way to understand (ALEC's) 17th Report Card on American Education. . . .

[freshwest]

50. The GOP, destroying America from the ground up. This is happening nationwide. Keep at 'em! Thanks.

[HiPointDem]

70. It's not the GOP. It's the ruling class, & they're bipartisan. Bush & Obama's education policys

are cut from the same cloth. Thanks.

[pizzadave]

52. Uhhhhgggggg!!!

I teach in a district on the other side of Oakland county and went to a meeting regarding this yesterday. One of the online schools is called K12. http://www.k12.com/

They can take the state money allocated to each of our students...away from the public districts. I really wanted to barf when I was told the CEO of K12 made 5 million dollars last year. God, I hate this profiteering...

What the hell is going on with this state?

-dave

[MichiganVote]

54. Please read this easy translation of this article:

1. There is no local control of schools per these bills. NONE.
2. There is only State control
3. Citizens will still be required to pay the property taxes that will be funneled into corporate and state controlled schools
4. The state can claim essentially Eminent Domain of any school in any area and GIVE it to a corporate run school
5. The so called public Charter schools can determine their enrollments by race, grade achievement or for any other purpose. These bills terminate Free and Appropriate Public Education for ALL, or FAPE.
6. The so called public Charter schools are exempt from the state testing and all forms of teacher evaluations as currently imposed on public schools by the state
7. There are no sanctions against so called Charter schools for failing graduation rates, for failing schools and for poor attendance by students
8. There is no plan of oversight for the online HS programs-meaning-any kid anywhere can cheat
9. So called Charter schools can refuse to admit or educate special needs students-a direct violation of IDEA
10. So called public schools are permitted to charge tuition
11. So called public schools are to be paid more in state money for taking in foreign students-meaning we pay the tax dollars to educate foreign students
12. Dual enrollment has been expanded. Meaning-can't afford your own kid's college, don't worry, now you can pay for some foreign kid and their AYP or College level courses
13. There is no requirement for the Arts in the so called public Charter schools
14. Any student can attend any school, their dollars go with them. There is no funding plan in place for this.

Pay attention. You are underwriting the corporate schools with your tax dollars. There is NO mention in these bills about failing schools. This is a power play to take, not give.

[Chan790]

56. This post needs to be singled out and highlighted somehow.

I'd say as an OP itself but that would divide attention and (edit: the post) might be less concerning out of context (edit: of this thread.)

Important and good post!

[G_j]

57. thanks! nt

[Nevernose]

60. Good post n/t

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

62. I can't come up with the words to express how f*&ing wrong this is!!!! I left public school teaching

because of things going in this direction, but I'm still shocked to see such a blatant power grab by the corporatists.

[HiPointDem]

71. Please consider making this a separate OP with an attention-grabbing title. thanks.

[freshwest]

75. And the division of society into permanent castes where none can rise above.

[demmiblue]

92. Thank you!

[mountain grammy]

59. Whenever I see your Gov on a talk show, he is always presented as some

kind of smart man making changes for the good. His grand views are never challenged or questioned. He's pretty scary to me. This man's a good actor. Get the word out!

[Smickey]

63. kick & rec.

n/t

[Ikonoklast]

64. Anyone that could would be leaving that state as property taxes will soar in a corporate

giveaway of tax dollars with no end in sight and no way to stop it, and the remaining public schools destroyed, slowly but surely.

Michigan might as well hold a gun to its own head and pull the trigger, theses bills are suicide.

[gtar100]

65. Proof that Republicans are just a bunch of jerks...

They push highly unpopular, self-serving legislation at times when they are least likely to be held accountable. That tells me they know perfectly well that what they are doing is wrong.

[libodem]

66. War on Christmas

My ass. There is a full on war on public education. Cantor and Ryan no doubt view it with the same jaded eye they look at S.S. and Medicare. A drain in the 1%'s bank.

[orbitalman]

67. K & R !!!

[HiPointDem]

68. kr. These are boom days for "conspiracy theorists." I hope people will rally against this shit

in michigan & everywhere else.

[diane in sf]

73. Does Michale Moore know about this?

[leftlibdem420]

78. Solution is super-obvious...

Make funding of schools state-wide rather than local so that schools in wealthy districts do not have more money and more resources.

[HiPointDem]

79. did you even read the op?

[TruthTeller]

81. Background for MI...

Prop A passed in 1994 which removed most property tax use for local districts. It goes to the state not community and then the state reallocates it to districts based on various measures. Districts cannot raise property taxes but may pass bonds to fund structures and improvements. Last year, the School Aid fund was raided by Leg. and Gov. and 1.6 billion was given to businesses. Now they are dividing up the structures and students to corporations.

[a2liberal]

82. Governor's office response to e-mails on the issue

in case it's useful to anyone so they can pre-counter their BS or whatever

Dear xxxx xxxx,

Thank you for recently contacting the Executive Office of Governor Rick Snyder regarding education in the state of Michigan. Governor Snyder appreciates your valuable input and has asked that I respond directly on his behalf.

To address the link between Michigan’s economy and the quality of Michigan’s public schools, Governor Snyder sought to address the state’s Persistently Lowest Achieving schools in his education agenda – currently designated as Priority Schools by Michigan Department of Education. These are schools that are persistently low achieving and regularly in the bottom 5% of student achievement. Michigan started ranking schools under the School Improvement Grant three years ago, and then refined it for the state Persistently Lowest Achieving legislation and federal Elementary Secondary Education Act flexibility. For years, the lowest achieving schools have been identified without the tools to do anything about it. The Education Achievement Authority is that tool.

The goal of the Education Achievement Authority of Michigan (EAA) is that all students should have access to a quality education and successfully complete their K-12 educational experience career and be college ready. One of the principal objectives of the EAA is to transform public education from a one-size fits all model.

The EAA’s approach to teaching is to institute a system known as student centered learning. In student centered learning, they test each student individually to determine their achievement level in each subject. They then develop a unique education plan for each individual student, working with that student at their individual level. In student centered learning, no longer are students moved on just because they have spent nine months sitting in a chair. They move on when they master a particular subject. Students no longer identify themselves in grades based on their age, but by their achievement level in various subjects.

All EAA direct-run schools use a cutting edge, digital learning platform that allows teachers to provide a personalized learning experience to each student. Each student is empowered to own and navigate her own learning path. The EAA is dedicating both public and private resources to building a new learning platform to give kids who simply have not had a chance an opportunity for a bright future.

Again, thank you for contacting the Governor’s office. Should you have further questions or comments regarding this or any other state-related matter, please do not hesitate to contact this office if there is anything we can be doing for you.

Sincerely,

xxxx xxxx
Constituent Services Division
Executive Office of the Governor, Rick Snyder
O: 517-335-7858

[HiPointDem]

84. that's funny. a press release that doesn't even pretend to deal with the issue which (i assume)

prompted the email.

land of the free, home of the slaves.

[gollygee]

93. Well my reply from my Republican state rep is a bit more promising than that

Thank you for contacting my office regarding House Bills 6004, 5923 and Senate Bill 1358.

Currently I am uncertain that HB 5923 will be heard before the end of this year. I have concerns with the proposed Educational Achievement Authorities (EAA). I understand the intent but I worry the legislation is too broad, especially as it is too soon to know how current EAA is doing.

Thank you again for writing and sharing your opinion on these bills.

[WinkyDink]

86. "I’ve never considered myself a conspiracy theorist—until now." We tin-foil-hatters smile ruefully.

[sellitman]

87. They who control education can teach whatever they want

Goodbye science

Goodbye Arts

Hello fundamental Christianity and GOP mental think.

[avebury]

88. Here is where a very creative campaign might

be effective.

Remember the town that was having a vote for a modest tax that was needed in order to be able to keep the public library open? There was a group that did a big campaign to vote no to a tax increase. Supporters of the library created a whole elaborate fake campaign to vote to ban books. Once they caught the attention of the public they were able to say that to deny funding for the library was the same as banning books.


Call you Representative and Senator to let them know that you want YOUR TAX DOLLARS to go to private companies. A good public education is not as important as making sure that private companies are profitable.
A vote for HB6004/SB1358 to hand over vacant school building to for profit schools.
Profits for businesses are more important then your child's future.
Worried about test scores, education standards, or your child's ability to compete with children around the country in getting into his/her dream school? Don't worry about that, just send your child to an EAA school, we don't believe in tests and standards.

You kind of get the drift. The point is to ratchet up public awareness enough for the people to actually take action.

[CanonRay]

89. The Rethugs ALWAYS have an agenda and they never quit, even when they lose

Compromise is an anathema to them. Remember this Dems.