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#AnotherDayAnotherCharterScandal
Will The LAUSD Take on Its Parasite Problem?
A proposed resolution would institute a policy to protect public school students on campuses co-located with charter schools under PROP-39.
– Proposed LAUSD resolution
Since 2016, I have been covering stories of LAUSD parents who have been fighting to protect the resources at their children’s public schools from the encroachment of charter schools. These publicly funded private schools have demanded space on LAUSD facilities using Proposition 39 without concern for the students already enrolled on these campuses. Like parasites, co-locating charters have depleted the space available leaving the “host school” weakened and disadvantaged in the competition for students in an era of declining enrollment.
Individual schools have been left to fend for themselves because the School Board that is supposed to represent LAUSD students has been dominated by members loyal to the charter school industry. The millions of dollars charter schools have spent on School Board elections have ensured that the needs of LAUSD public school students have been neglected. As a result, these students are less safe, have had space for music and art programs taken away from them, and have had to receive IEP services in broom closets.
With the election of Dr. Rocio Rivas last year, board members representing the interests of public education achieved the first clear majority in decades. In the biggest move yet to protect their constituents, this new majority has introduced a new resolution to finally address this crisis. Authored by Rivas and Board President Jackie Goldberg, the “Creating a Charter Schools Co-Location Policy to Mitigate Impacts Caused by Proposition 39” would:
- Enumerate clear guidelines that allow the District to focus on supporting its most fragile students and schools, key programs, and student safety by avoiding…
