Rick Snyder's school privatization plans may get Race To The Top money from Arne. Really?

[madfloridian]

I can't believe the man actually has a Twitter handle called One Tough Nerd. But here is a link.

https://twitter.com/onetoughnerd

One of the methods he is using is called the Education Achievement Authority. Here is more about that group from Brainwrap's post at Daily Kos

Apparently the EAA is a finalist in the current so-called "Race to the Top" competition. The Ann Arbor Public School district (as part of the Washtenaw Alliance for Education) and many other organizations and individuals have signed on to a letter sent to President Obama and Sec. Ed. Duncan objecting to the EAA's candidacy, and urging its rejection.

This is the key passage:

The EAA, a “state reform” district modeled after the problematic New Orleans Recovery School District (RSD), was established through an August 2011 interlocal agreement between then-Emergency Manager of Detroit Public Schools Roy Roberts and Eastern Michigan University under the former Public Act 4 of 2011 (“The Emergency Manager Law”), an act that was repealed by the Michigan electorate in the November 6 election. Shortly thereafter, the Detroit Board of Education voted to disband the EAA and to sever ties with Eastern Michigan University. Despite the voice of the electorate, our Michigan state legislature is pressing forward with bills during the lame duck session that would codify the EAA into state law.

We oppose the establishment of the EAA and ask that you stand in support of Michigan voters who are deeply concerned with its impact on our children’s education and on our rights as citizens to advocate for them.

The rejected Emergency Manager Law under another name?

Truth Out hit the nail on the head in a November article.

Education for Profit in Detroit

It seemed like a scene from an auction block. This past Tuesday at the House of Representatives in Lansing, MI, the education committee held a hearing on a bill (HB 6004) that would help drive a deeper stake into the heart of public education in Detroit, transferring absolute power to the Education Achievement Authority (EAA), a "public body corporate," as its chancellor, John Covington, defined during his testimony, which currently occupies more than 15 (nine elementary/middle, six high) Detroit Public Schools (DPS) and serves 10,000 students. It is a bill aimed, in plain terms, at shipping off larger swaths of Detroit's kids (each worth $7,000 per year, roughly $42 per day) into a private system.

The Electablog calls what Snyder is doing a "Big Government takeover, Republican style."

Michigan Republicans move to privatize public education under the guise of reform

Although many of us here in Michigan have been fearful regarding what the Republicans in our state legislature would do during the lame duck session which lasts for the next three weeks, few of us envisioned the draconian steps they would take to hand over the education of our kids to private, for-profit corporations and destroy our public school system once and for all. That is, however, exactly what they plan to do.

I don't know which if any have passed so far.

The Electablog includes explanations made by a very fearful and upset school superintendent.

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.

You need to read @onetoughnerd to keep up with what Michigan is doing through Rick Snyder.

Crossposted at Twitter

[madfloridian]

1. Arne's Dept of Ed says these privatization plans are top Race to Top MI finalists.

I guess that says all there is to say about the state of education with Arne Duncan in charge. We as taxpayers could be giving millions to a group that can do whatever it wants to public schools in MI.

http://www.michiganradio.org/post/education-achievement-authority-selected-finalist-race-top-competition

"The Education Achievement Authority (EAA), Michigan’s new reform school district, has been selected as the state’s only finalist in the U.S. Department of Education’s Race to the Top-District competition.

The EAA is one of 61 finalists nationwide, competing for close to $400 million in federal funds.

Tyrone Winfrey is the Chief of Staff for the EAA. He says he's optimistic about snagging the funds.

"I think we were chosen because it's not a one-size-fits-all model," he said, "and it's basically educating students where they are, individually, within those classrooms."

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Everyone - Read Shock Doctrine!!!!

K & R

[madfloridian]

3. I have it sitting on the table.

Reading portions at a time.

We are experiencing it in real time now.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. There's a video on YouTube.

It's about an hour long. And it's excellent.

[madfloridian]

5. Will look it up.

I had it at one time, lost it. Share the link if you happen on it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. I'll check later and post if no one else has

I'm on my phone and lunch is about over.

[madfloridian]

11. Forgot you were still teaching. Oops.

I guess I am lucky to be retired. I remember having to eat lunch at the table with my class. I remember when my 4th grade boys thought it was funny to squash little ketchup packets under their feet. Ruined one of my skirts.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. Here it is but I can't get it to play

Here's another one that may work better

&playnext=1&list=PL1C565A4EFC69E257

[madfloridian]

24. They're working for me.

Doesn't You Tube use Flash Player? Not sure. I know I am ALWAYS having to update that.

Thanks for the links.

[WCGreen]

17. Sundance channel has run it a couple of times.

[madfloridian]

19. Ah, maybe that is where I saw it.

That just reminded me.

[WCGreen]

25. I saved it on my UVerse and watched it the other night....

It is shocking. Milton Friedman is a very harsh dude who cares not one wit about the lives his policies will destroy. Truly an amoral being.

[gollygee]

9. +1

We in Michigan are living it.

[madfloridian]

13. Yes, you are living it right now.

Proud of the activism there in your state. Florida doesn't have much activism at all.

[madfloridian]

6. Love this post about Snyder from a MI teacher.

https://twitter.com/placido/status/278634696773079042

". @onetoughnerd I’d like to thank you for completing my moderate Republican husband into a full-fledged Democrat! I tried for 22 years! #yay

[madfloridian]

8. How do you feel about Snyder's privatization plans getting Arne's RTTT money?

Just wondering.

[HiPointDem]

10. kr

[madfloridian]

12. Thanks for kr. Truth Out covered this earlier.

It's scary stuff.

http://truth-out.org/news/item/12790-education-for-profit-in-detroit-the-buying-and-selling-of-failing-children

[woo me with science]

14. K&R The theft of education under Obama.

Don't tolerate this Third Way garbage. We need to demand an end to destructive, right-wing corporatism under a Democratic administration.

"Education: The Big Enchilada"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002967097

Call, write, go to Washington. This needs to stop now.

[madfloridian]

15. Thanks for that link to HiPointDem's post

I missed it, and it even let me recommend it.

That was a good one.

[woo me with science]

16. Thanks for this OP.

Last edited Wed Dec 12, 2012, 08:16 PM - Edit history (1)

IMO we desperately need to integrate the alarms about education policy with a broader media education campaign on privatization itself: how it is being pushed in so many areas now by the one percent, and the real reasons behind it. And a hell-raising alarm that it is now coming for everyone's children and our schools.

IMO people will take all of these assaults much more seriously and be better equipped to reject the education propaganda if they understand what is happening as part of the larger pattern of looting by the one percent.

The corporate media do a marvelous job of keeping everything separate. The education debate is ostensibly about poor teachers. The post office debate is supposedly about efficiency and changing technology. I don't think most Americans even *realize* that prisons are being privatized and that their business models depend on finding ways to incarcerate more and more of us in order to maintain profits.

We need to put it all together to expose the larger pattern, so that people realize that all this Third Way and Republican garbage about saving their children and our schools will perpetrate exactly the opposite.

[madfloridian]

18. It's stunning to think Rick Snyder could get federal money to harm MI so much.

I would like to believe people cared enough, but I don't think so. I have been posting back here at DU just a couple of months after being gone about a year....and I already have 6 people blocking and ignoring me. Since I don't attack people, I have to believe it is that they are not wanting to hear what is happening to education.

That's a shame.

[GiaGiovanni]

20. People don't care--YET--because it's happening in black and Hispanic neighborhoods

White people need to wake up. It starts in the inner city but ends up in your backyard eventually. Start caring NOW and fight this stuff.

[madfloridian]

21. Won't take long.

Charter school companies are already pushing into wealthy neighborhoods in NYC and in NJ. Success Academy in NY just moves right into public school buildings and takes over. Pushes others out.

[GiaGiovanni]

23. By the time the more affluent realize what has been going on, it will be too late

So much of this is under the radar. And yet, it's in plain sight. They're not really hiding anymore.

[madfloridian]

28. You are right about that.

Depends on whose ox is being gored. By the time the affluent realize it will be hard to fight back.

[GiaGiovanni]

29. People think a moderate amount of money protects them

It doesn't--not when you're up against Bill Gates and greedy hedge funds.

[Starry Messenger]

26. k&r

edit. I just went to the Twitter handle. Holy cr@p, he really does call himself that. How statesmanlike.

[madfloridian]

27. Oh, yeh. I wasn't joking. His staff does a lot of his tweets, but the handle says it all.

Macho, self-important, arrogant.

[GiaGiovanni]

30. And completely oblivious to the needs of children in a democratic society

The selfishness of these types in unbelievable.

[sulphurdunn]

31. k@r

+1000

[madfloridian]

32. Thanks. Can't believe Snyder could get fed money for that plan.

It's stunning.

[madfloridian]

33. This is why public schools lose enrollment and lose money.

http://www.freep.com/article/20121226/NEWS05/312260083/Fewer-students-means-more-money-woes-for-state-s-school-districts?odyssey=mod

This article shows the result of Snyder's school policies.