Change The LAUSD

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(9/21/21) One of our readers sent in a couple of construction pictures from Six Flags Magic Mountain. Mostly demolition and clearing taking place right now, while we wait for the park to still announce and confirm their 2022 new coaster project. (Photo Credit to Carl J. Petersen)."

Read all of the updates in Screamscape.

C.P. in Los Angeles, CA, writes: While I agree that there is plenty of blame to go around, I think that you underestimated the amount of blame that should be assessed to George W. Bush. What was left out of your summary was the unnecessary incursion into Iraq. There was no immediate threat coming from this country and we should have kept our focus on Afghanistan. Had we concentrated on this effort at the earliest stages of nation-building, perhaps we could have built a more stable foundation.

I also wonder if 5% is too little an apportionment for Biden, if only because he had a seat at Barack Obama's table and should also be held responsible for those 8 years.

The question then becomes where to offset the blame. I would lean toward the U.S. military leadership, if only because the buck is supposed to stop with the Commander-In-Chief.

Read the full column at Electoral-Vote.com.

"Carl J. Petersen covers education shenanigans in the Los Angeles area. Here he shows how one charter school ignored its own charter to prey on a public elementary school. Reposted with permission. Reposted with permission."

The NPE Blogs of the Day feature what the NPE editors think are interesting and important blog posts centered on issues of public education.

"Carl J. Petersen is a parent and student advocate in Los Angeles. This recent post shows how the Citizens of the World charter ended up hurting the students it set out to save. Reposted with permission."

The NPE Blogs of the Day feature what the NPE editors think are interesting and important blog posts centered on issues of public education.

No Charter School Reform or Taxpayer Protection

"When San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan brought down the $50 million A-3 charter scam, she noted, “People v. McManus revealed many weaknesses in the State’s education system in the areas of fraud enforcement, student data tracking, auditing, school finance, and oversight of charter schools.”

To address these weaknesses Assembly Members Daniel O’Donnell, Cristina Garcia, and Kevin McCarty introduced AB1316. The California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) expressed strong opposition to the bill.  As education writer Carl Petersen observed, “Unfortunately, AB1316 was placed in the inactive file by a political system unwilling to risk the wrath of the California Charter School Association.”

This year is turning into a very bad year for public education in California. Neoliberal Democrats and the CCSA are having their way."

Read the entire article on Tultican.

"How we’re fighting back

Still fighting for their public school. Los Angeles parents, students, teachers, and other community members are protesting after Citizens of the World (COTW) charter schools used the California law known as Prop-39 to take space from Shirley Avenue Elementary School campus. Patch.com" 

Read the complete report on the In The Public Interest website.

"Carl J. Petersen keeps an eye on Los Angeles. In this piece, he reports Girls Athletic Leadership charter school (GALS) will squeeze their new campus onto a 1.2-acre site in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Reposted with permission."

The NPE Blogs of the Day feature what the NPE editors think are interesting and important blog posts centered on issues of public education.

C.P. in Los Angeles, CA, writes: With the recall election looking like it would happen, there seems to be more urgency in having Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) retire. While it may be unlikely, the recall of Gray Davis and the election of Trump have shown that Murphy's law also applies to politics. The damage of the GOP's recall being successful would be significantly compounded if Feinstein could not finish her term, and a Republican got to appoint her successor.

Read the full column at Electoral-Vote.com.

"Carl J. Petersen is a parent and special education advocate who keeps a close eye on the Los Angeles school system. Here he is taking pro-charter members of the LAUSD board for soliciting advice from Texas..."

"Petersen actually addressed the board and he includes his remarks in the complete piece, which can be viewed here."

The NPE Blogs of the Day feature what the NPE editors think are interesting and important blog posts centered on issues of public education.

"Kids Last

In California, a charter school chain apparently wants to build a school on a toxic land fill."

Read the full article on Curmudgucation.