America’s system of education was built for racial dominance. Anyone who actually studies history knows that. So it was curious to read the Times article “Teachers Union Chief; School Choice Rooted in Segregation” this week, where AFT president Randi Weingarten singled out “school choice” for its purported racist roots, when a more accurate title really…
school choice
2 Big Takeaways in the Latest Charter and District Comparisons in Oakland
If you haven’t seen Informing Equity: Student Need, Spending and Resource Use in Oakland’s Public Schools, you should. It is a critical first step in understanding what is happening in the difference public education sectors in Oakland and across the range of schools. I will excerpt the reports own big takeaways, but there are two critical…
Here’s the Test for Charter Schools Under DeVos and Trump
As school choice advocate Betsy Devos assumes the role of secretary of education, charter school camps have formed for and against her. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools supported her, while the coalition of independent charter schools in New York City (representing over 100 schools) opposed her. And in California, while school leaders have almost…
When Good Intentions Go Bad, Opportunity Hoarders and Equity in Oakland
Existing rules and the dynamics of choice tend to increase inequality. There don’t need to be any bad actors. As parents we all do try to do the best we can for our children. But that pattern of choices, and neighborhood assignment, tend to reinforce and increase the distance between children of advantage and those…
Choosers, Losers, Abusers and “Opportunity Hoarding” in Oakland
School choice can divide us into winners and losers. In fact it already has. I am talking about charters. But not just charters, also those lucky enough to be able to choose where they live, with corresponding quality neighborhood schools, or have the resources to hustle their kid into an-out-of neighborhood or private option, the…