Cracking the Education Monopoly: Los Angeles parents demand choice - and get it.

Charters are public schools, often run by private nonprofit organizations, that give students an alternative to traditional schools and principals and teachers more local control over how campuses are run. The transformation of Locke High, completed over objections from the teachers union, marked the first time an existing school in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) was turned into a charter school.

On August 25, 2009, the LAUSD took another major step toward cracking the public school monopoly in the nation's second-largest school district.

Thousands gathered in downtown Los Angeles to sound off on a revolutionary school choice resolution put before the school board. Parents donning My child, My choice t-shirts faced off against union members and others who opposed the resolution, which would give students in some of LAs worst schools the choice to attend charter schools. In the end, the resolution passed by a six-to-one vote. Now, roughly 250 of LAUSDs 800 traditional public schools are eligible to become charters.

"Cracking the Education Monopoly" is produced by Ted Balaker and Hawk Jensen, who also narrates. Nathan Chaffetz field produced.

[mooresci]

If they take public money, they are accountable to the taxpayers. I've been a public school teacher for 21 years, and we are always held accountable to our parents.

[kwtulloss]

Hey that's my pastor in this video, Pastor K.W. Tulloss! What a leader for the people. It's my child and my choice.

[Mauhadeeb]

Indeed I am, sir. I worked for a HIV clinic while in college and 1 of the top 20 prescriptions filled were Viagra. Not just the elderly with HIV were getting the drug, men as young as 25 were on it. I think it is despicable the way they spend our money.

[donotswallow]

Awesome! It's disgusting how union members put themselves before the kids.

[Questfortruth]

Without school competition, the poor will forever remain poor.

[shampoovta]

I work in a Ca. school and I say give them what they want.

they should have a right to choose.

[mwangolatrue]

The difference is that Charter schools are accountable to the parents, while public schools are accoutable the bueraucray, just not to argue about the bureaucracy efficiency

[hostiliscivitas]

But they're also FORCED to pay taxes to support a public school system that they do not want theri kids to attend.

Real choice is tax credits for people who chose private schools!

[mikeqq]

get the federal government and the unions out of schools....LOCAL KNOWS WHAT LOCAL

[rarsn]

Public schools, by definition, are not a choice. Whether you use them or not, you are paying to use them. Education would be a lot cheaper, and higher quality, if the state didn't get involved in education (of course, the same goes for everything else the state is involved in).

[LeGioNoFZioN]

congratulations, wonderful news. Keep up the excellent work.

[mooresci]

First of all, charter schools are paid for with public money. We have done charter schools in Texas for quite some time. Some of them work, and some of them are run by people who line their own pockets with state funds and don't teach kids anything. If you're going to have charter schools, you have to hold them accountable!!! Make them take the tests, measure their drop out and attendance rates, etc., then publish the information.

[JohnMacAulay]

Unions take money from the poor and set up systems in which the select few with connections get the greatest benefits while the rank and file pay for corporate lobbyist and democratic and republican campaigns.

It is theft for an entity outside of the government to have the right to take your money without your choice.

The teachers who actually care about the kids more than their union bosses should go on strike against their union.

[sticktotheissue]

The founding fathers of this country valued the rights of the individual ahead of the collective or greater good. If you're calling them swine then it is I who does not wish to waste any more pearls!

[ecawildcats]

Privatization is the way to go! Win for the citizens!

[aidengregg]

"Capitalism is inherently incompatible with democracy."

Strange that you get just as many good examples of tyranny under communism and socialism then, isn't it?

[Sweet-as-banana]

ALL RIGHT! I'm so HAPPY FOR THEM!

[hyetalian]

You think those teachers would work harder to keep kids from leaving their schools by becoming better teachers instead of try to pass legislation that will prevent them from moving to other schools thus giving teachers no incentive to improve themselves.

[monkeyfire]

We are happy because it is a big step in the right direction

[charleshoskinsoncrypto]

They just make noise. No real value behind what they are saying. If a parent can choose a difference school, then they will choose the best one for their child. It's a fucking joke to consider a monopoly.