Currently in theaters, "Won't Back Down" is a Hollywood film that has caused quite a bit of controversy. The movie is a fictional story of a parent and teacher who work together to take over their failing public school. The plot is based on the California parent-trigger law that passed two years ago. However, to-date, no parent trigger attempts have been successful.
Desert Trails Elementary School in Adelanto, California is one example of a school parents have tried to use the trigger law to change. It is the worst of 12 schools failing in the Adelanto district, and the parents want to convert it into a charter school. However, to this day, the parents are still caught up in the system battling the school and district in court.
California was the first to pass the parent trigger law, and as of September three others (Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) have adopted parent trigger laws. Twelve more states are currently debating implementing their own. Although details of the law differ from state to state, the purpose is to allow parents with kids in a failing school the power to change the school - if fifty-one percent, or a majority of the parents, sign a petition. Details of the laws include:
• The school must be identified by the state as low-performing for consecutive years.
• There must be a majority agreement voiced among parents of students attending the school or with students in lower grade levels who would likely attend the school in the future, typically in the form of a petition.
• Intervention options include charter school conversion, forcing the school to replace administrators and a majority of the teachers, or shutting the school down completely.
During the U.S. Conference of Mayors in June, many voiced their support for the parent trigger laws, including Chicago's Rahm Emanuel, Los Angeles' Antonio Villaraigosa, and Newark's Cory Booker. Michigan legislature announced earlier in September that they would consider implementing the policy. Governors of Lousiana and Florida Bobby Jindal and Jeb Bush both have shown their support. Jeb Bush even announced his attendance at the screening for "Won't Back Down."
"As a mother, I know that I'd be willing to do whatever it takes to make sure my daughters get a great education," Michelle Rhee, former chancellor of the Washington, D.C. public schools and founder of StudentsFirst, said in a statement. "This movie speaks to the importance of great teachers and sends a touching, powerful and important message that transcends party divisions: every child deserves a great education."
"Low income moms, people of color, and even undocumented parents, they have that same right to be empowered over the education of their own kids," said Ben Austin, who conceived of the parent-trigger law. In 2009 he launched Parent Revolution, a nonprofit based in Los Angeles; a year later the parent-trigger law made it on the education reform bill. Parent Revolution is currently backing the Desert Trails Parent Union in their struggle over Desert Trails Elementary.
"Parents don't care how many lobbyists you have," Austin said to Bloomsberg Businessweek. "They just care what's good for kids."
Not all are in favor of the law, however. Critics of parent-trigger laws include teachers unions, administrators, and parent groups who worry that parental interference could cause more harm than good and is no guarantee of a better school. Some fear that the law could weaken unions and be leveraged by big corporations and for-profit charter operators to move towards privatizing education, bringing their schools into the districts.
"I think it had some promise, but once you see how difficult it is to do, it starts to refocus attention on other school choice reforms that might work better," Adam Emerson, director of the parental choice program at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, said to Governing news reporters. "You're starting to see a lot of ambivalence and questions about whether this is a viable option."
"For this to really take off as a viable option for school reform, I think there has to be a successful trigger," Emerson said.
Parents are working on that successful trigger now. Adelanto parents will continue to battle their failing school. They have a hearing on the case scheduled this week, and the parents who signed the petition plan to vote on selecting a charter operator Oct. 18.
"Let me be clear: This plan is not about pitting school boards versus charter schools or teachers unions versus parents," Jindal said in a speech in January. "This is about making sure all parents have an opportunity to get a quality education for their children."
Whatever options exist with the potential to give our children the education they deserve, we should run with them. If parents are willing to voice and lead change for a failing school, then let them have their chance.
Desert Trails Elementary School in Adelanto, California is one example of a school parents have tried to use the trigger law to change. It is the worst of 12 schools failing in the Adelanto district, and the parents want to convert it into a charter school. However, to this day, the parents are still caught up in the system battling the school and district in court.
California was the first to pass the parent trigger law, and as of September three others (Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) have adopted parent trigger laws. Twelve more states are currently debating implementing their own. Although details of the law differ from state to state, the purpose is to allow parents with kids in a failing school the power to change the school - if fifty-one percent, or a majority of the parents, sign a petition. Details of the laws include:
• The school must be identified by the state as low-performing for consecutive years.
• There must be a majority agreement voiced among parents of students attending the school or with students in lower grade levels who would likely attend the school in the future, typically in the form of a petition.
• Intervention options include charter school conversion, forcing the school to replace administrators and a majority of the teachers, or shutting the school down completely.
During the U.S. Conference of Mayors in June, many voiced their support for the parent trigger laws, including Chicago's Rahm Emanuel, Los Angeles' Antonio Villaraigosa, and Newark's Cory Booker. Michigan legislature announced earlier in September that they would consider implementing the policy. Governors of Lousiana and Florida Bobby Jindal and Jeb Bush both have shown their support. Jeb Bush even announced his attendance at the screening for "Won't Back Down."
"As a mother, I know that I'd be willing to do whatever it takes to make sure my daughters get a great education," Michelle Rhee, former chancellor of the Washington, D.C. public schools and founder of StudentsFirst, said in a statement. "This movie speaks to the importance of great teachers and sends a touching, powerful and important message that transcends party divisions: every child deserves a great education."
"Low income moms, people of color, and even undocumented parents, they have that same right to be empowered over the education of their own kids," said Ben Austin, who conceived of the parent-trigger law. In 2009 he launched Parent Revolution, a nonprofit based in Los Angeles; a year later the parent-trigger law made it on the education reform bill. Parent Revolution is currently backing the Desert Trails Parent Union in their struggle over Desert Trails Elementary.
"Parents don't care how many lobbyists you have," Austin said to Bloomsberg Businessweek. "They just care what's good for kids."
Not all are in favor of the law, however. Critics of parent-trigger laws include teachers unions, administrators, and parent groups who worry that parental interference could cause more harm than good and is no guarantee of a better school. Some fear that the law could weaken unions and be leveraged by big corporations and for-profit charter operators to move towards privatizing education, bringing their schools into the districts.
"I think it had some promise, but once you see how difficult it is to do, it starts to refocus attention on other school choice reforms that might work better," Adam Emerson, director of the parental choice program at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, said to Governing news reporters. "You're starting to see a lot of ambivalence and questions about whether this is a viable option."
"For this to really take off as a viable option for school reform, I think there has to be a successful trigger," Emerson said.
Parents are working on that successful trigger now. Adelanto parents will continue to battle their failing school. They have a hearing on the case scheduled this week, and the parents who signed the petition plan to vote on selecting a charter operator Oct. 18.
"Let me be clear: This plan is not about pitting school boards versus charter schools or teachers unions versus parents," Jindal said in a speech in January. "This is about making sure all parents have an opportunity to get a quality education for their children."
Whatever options exist with the potential to give our children the education they deserve, we should run with them. If parents are willing to voice and lead change for a failing school, then let them have their chance.
No comments:
Post a Comment