Here in Ohio, the statewide test results were released this week. The charter schools(aka "community" schools) had a pass rate of 43.6%, while the public schools had a pass rate of 71.1%. The public tax dollars are being funneled into the corporate for profit schools. The for-profit schools are delivering a vastly inferior product.

http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2014306100019&nclick_check=1+

Now a pass rate of 71.1% is nothing to brag about, but the kids in the well funded wealthy suburban schools have a much higher pass rate. It makes a big difference if schools have classes of 30 or more or if the schools have classes of around 20 or so, like the wealthy suburban schools. The school funding scheme in Ohio was declared unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court, but the GOP controlled legislature has done nothing to correct it and the GOP now owns the Ohio Supreme Court, as well, so the Court refuses to do anything about the legislative and executive inaction on correcting school funding.


The public schools have had their state funding slashed by the Kasich administration, so the schools dependent on the state funding are increasing class sizes and cutting staff like never before and the public schools are still out-performing the for-profits. The wealthy suburbs are not in the dire straits for funding like the urban and rural schools are. The Kasich administration and the fascist goons in our legislature are doing everything it can to hamstring public educators and destroy the teachers' unions. They care nothing about the kids. It is all about following the Koch and ALEC models to destroy public education in Ohio and to increase profits to the corporations who then return the favor by funneling massive amounts of money back to GOP. It is really legalized bribery.

Ohio is now a third-world state.

would be used to funnel campaign money. The depth of their corruptitude is amazing.

Privatization is just a code word for a money-laundering enterprise. You take something that is paid for by tax dollars to provide a service to the community. Then you bring in a private owner who takes it over and, as the taxpayer funds comes in, a very healthy portion is skimmed off to pad the pockets of the "owner" who then dutifully recycles a portion of that back to the responsible politicians as "campaign contributions."

Thank you for the clarification PSPS.

The Sun-TImes article from Feb. says Emanuel has been friends with an African American minister who is a real estate broker that could end up as landlords. The article mostly talks about state Speaker Michael Madigan.

A South Side minister allied with the mayor and a real estate broker who is an Emanuel friend could end up as landlords for new schools, collecting rent paid for by taxpayers.

http://www.suntimes.com/24960566-418/landlords-for-2-proposed-chicago-charter-schools-have-ties-to-emanuel.html#.U5sEUhxWnnR

A for profit corporation sets up a non-profit subsidary to run a charter school. The parent company owns the land/buildings, and rents them to the school at inflated price. Public money (via vouchers) thus going to for profit corp. If the school goes under, parent corp sues to collect unpaid rent on lease, which ends up being paid by guess who. Privitized schools are a total scam.

Private schools tied to the GOP are corrupt? Knock me over with a feather!

Anyone with a lick of sense knew how this would play out. I just hope we can stop this nonsense before it is too late. I am especially upset with President Obama and Arnie Duncan for pushing for school privatization so much. That is one of my biggest disappointments with President Obama. Their attacks on teachers is scurrilous, but Wall Street loves it.