CHARTER SCHOOL SUCCESS IN NYC

A study of charter schools by a Stanford researcher released yesterday shows that charter schools in New York City produce significantly higher gains than traditional public schools.

THE (PARENT) REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED!

This Sunday, at 4pm PST, the Parent Revolution will be featured on a nationally televised town hall on MSNBC called "About Our Children." I will be joining Bill Cosby, NAACP President Ben Jealous, national teacher's union leadership, and others in discussing the future of education in America. Hosted in front of a live studio audiance in Washington, DC, this is an exciting opportunity to let the country know about our work together here in Los Angeles.

UNIONIZED REFORM

Two days ago, I wrote about the case for paying better teachers more money to help keep them in the classroom and improve education. I also maintained it was crucial for teacher’s unions to come on board with these reforms. And lo and behold, it turns out that is all starting to happen!

WORKING TOGETHER ON “MERIT PAY”

I would like to once again steal from progressive blogger Matthew Yglesias to make the case for finding ways to pay better teachers more money. Critics often charge that things like merit pay are “conservative” ideas - a common tactic of those opposed to education reform - and appear to get particularly upset when unabashed progressives are advocating for them.

NOW WE TAKE POWER

 Last week's victory was big. Parents all across Los Angeles stood up, stood together and spoke with one voice demanding change. And we got it. In the form of a board resolution that strips away the LAUSD's monopoly to operate all failing schools and all newly constructed schools throughout Los Angeles. But that's just a first step. The LAUSD has a long history of passing "historic" resolutions that get bogged down, slowed down, and watered down in the black hole of the Beaudry bureaucracy, never to be seen again.

JOIN US ON TUESDAY

This Tuesday, the Parent Revolution- along with many other community organizations and civic leaders- will be rallying at the school board to demand the school board pass the Public School Choice Resolution. There will be thousands of parents there, and we would love for you all to join us on what we hope will be a momentous day for the parents and children of Los Angeles. Please see below for details:

What: Rally to support the Public School Choice Resolution!

When: Tuesday, August 25th @ 11:30am

Where: LAUSD Headquarters- 333 S Beaudry Ave, LA CA 90017

A PATH TO OPEN DIALOGUE

The LA Times wrote an editorial this morning criticizing the Parent Revolution for excluding several UTLA protestors from our event with the Mayor this past Tuesday. While we understand the position they took, we would like to take a moment to explain ourselves, and offer some thoughts moving forward.

GROUND ZERO IN VENICE!

I would like to personally thank all the parents who attended the first Venice Revolution meeting on Monday night. I could actually see the Revolution in all of the beautiful faces of the parents and their children. Parents from different racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds all came together around the common language of hope, vision and courage. Opponents of the Revolution may have power in the traditional sense -- but what happened monday night in Venice was powerful too. The Revolution is taking off, and it's fun being at ground zero.

GARFIELD HITS A MILESTONE!

Way to go Garfield parents! We are at the 51% mark as of today! It’s been a roller coaster ride trying to get in to the schools to speak to the parents of each of the middle schools, as well as trying to connect with Garfield High School Parents. Some principals and administrators have been threatened by the Revolution, but some have been surprisingly supportive and helpful. Regardless, it's getting easier now as parents have gotten to know and understand the Revolution, because the word is out and parents are now coming to us.

PRESIDENT OBAMA CONTINUES TO LEAD ON EDUCATION

President Obama and his education secretary, Arne Duncan, today unveiled their "Race to the Top" competition, an effort to reward states making serious progress towards meaningful education reform. States leading the way on school reform will be eligible to apply for a pool of $4.35 billion to help drive their innovative efforts.

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