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“At the level of state and federal education policy, charters are providing a reform cover for eroding the public school system and an investment opportunity for those who see education as a business rather than a fundamental institution of democratic civic life.” Stan Karp in this well-written article: http://www.njea.org/news-and-publications/njea-review/march-2013/charter-schools-and-the-future-of-public-education. CONTACT KANSAS HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS TODAY!...

Achievement by fiat Speak out: The EAA is the wrong tool to help schools   Achievement by fiat   Well, it’s back. Last Tuesday afternoon, Rep. Lisa Lyons introduced the new version of the “EAA bill” – that is, a bill which would make the Educational Achievement Authority a permanent state school district and expand its authority greatly. Rep. Lyons (R-Alto), who also chairs the House Education committee, then scheduled hearings on the bill (HB 4369) for the following day. As a result, those of us who hoped to speak up about the bill had less than 24...

Does it sound like Indiana citizens are enjoying their charter schools? See this letter from Mike Walsh: Public education in lawmakers’ crosshairs The legislature is on pace to completely alter public education on the misguided and false belief that our schools are failing. Their actions affirm their allegiance to the Mitch Daniels/Tony Bennett reforms aggressively advanced by the private sector, even in the face of Bennett’s overwhelming defeat in November. They have arrogantly chosen to ignore this reality by pushing their reform agenda with their supermajority. You should be alarmed. In effect, the legislature is complicit in creating...

Quote of the Day: “What was surprising, however, was the deep level of ignorance of government and history that some members of the [House Education] committee seem to possess. During questioning, I was told that the US Constitution is based on the Bible and contains passages from the King James Bible, that the majority should prevail in what religion is promoted in the schools, and that the “Drudge Report” is a reliable source of factual information. I was told, essentially, that I had no right to be there because I only represented a minority of Kansans and that...