A Charter School Pawn

“If I asked my teachers in my old school for help, they wouldn’t worry about it. They worried more about their pay.”

- 4th Grade Charter School Student

Jose, a fourth-grade student at a charter school, was so nervous as he spoke before the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) School Board that he was fighting back tears. The tension in the gallery was thick as the audience held its breath for the young boy. Board President Monica Garcia intervened and suggested that he take a deep breath. The founder of his charter school gave him a reassuring hand on his shoulder. She also had an ear to ear smile on her face.

As Jose continued through his speech, the tension increased as it became apparent that his young mind had been subjected to some very serious indoctrination. By getting him “into their ship” they saved him from teachers “worried more about their pay” than helping him to read at grade level. The Board had to renew his school because only they had “real teachers.” The charter’s founder beamed with joy.

While the LAUSD will rarely reject requests to renew charters, these schools regularly trot out their students to Board…