While the vast majority of California public schools remained off-limits to students this school year, a bright light has flickered in the darkness:

April 23th, 2021
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John,

While the vast majority of California public schools remained off-limits to students this school year, a bright light has flickered in the darkness: charter schools.

Mostly outside the iron grasp of unions that have kept traditional public schools shuttered, charter schools acted quickly to educate students throughout the pandemic. Their nimbleness and ability to focus on student needs rather than union demands allowed them to shift to a functioning virtual model almost overnight, permit teachers to remain in regular contact with students, extend the school days and years as necessary, and provide additional support to students who needed it.

While California’s public schools failed students, charter schools rose to the occasion ([link removed]) , and their enrollment skyrocketed ([link removed]) .

But, California politicians can’t let a good thing go unpunished, particularly when it might threaten the unions who elected them. After gettingkicked in the teeth ([link removed]) by the unions that bankrolled him for daring to put forward a bill that would get kids back in classrooms ([link removed]) , Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell has introduced AB 1316
([link removed]) . He is seeminglymore attentive to the hundreds of thousands of dollars ([link removed]) in campaign contributions from government unions than from the hundreds of thousands of constituents that want kids in schools. If passed, this bill would essentially gut California charter schools and make even more children vulnerable to the teacher
([link removed]) union ([link removed]) abuses ([link removed]) we’ve witnessed these past 13 months.

O’Donnell’s bill seeks to severely limit the ability of families and schools to provide instruction that meets the unique learning news of students by drastically cutting charter school funding; removing their ability to provide the tailored education their students need; restricting which students are eligible to attend charter schools; restraining charters from setting curriculum and providing classes and enrichment they deem necessary; adding unnecessary credentialing requirements to vendors; and introducing layers of bureaucratic red tape that will make it harder for California students to receive a quality education.

Especially ironic is the timing of this proposal: introduced in a year when students stuck in traditional public schools have experienced devastating callousness from a system and leaders purportedly tasked with educating and nurturing them. The authors and co-authors of this bill have collectivelyreceived over a million dollars from government unions, including the California Teachers Association ([link removed]) . Together, they want to level their educational competition, even if it means all kids lose.

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. If you can’t join ‘em, crush ‘em.

More from CPC
* Teachers union: members too exhausted for 4-day-a-week school ([link removed])
* Dear California: The winter wave is over. Let’s reopen. ([link removed])
* Solving California’s urban water scarcity ([link removed])
* Los Angeles schools kowtow to union demands ([link removed])
* The superintendent cannot choose your doctor either ([link removed])
* Winning a war of attrition against government unions ([link removed])
* Listen: Dog returns to its own vomit ([link removed])
* Newsom allies want to dox recall petition signers ([link removed])


CPC and allies in the news
* Listen: CPC’s Chantal Lovell joins the John and Ken show to talk about the union’s role in keeping schools closed ([link removed])
* San Diego Union Tribune: Some San Diego schools use ‘overflow’ rooms to fit in students learning in-person ([link removed])
* Fox News: LA Board of Education members eat, check phones while mom pleads for school reopening ([link removed])
* Sean Mitchell, Parent Union ambassador, joins Phil Cowan to discuss the realities of CA school “reopenings” (1:28 mark) ([link removed])
* Watch: Fox and Friends discusses LAUSD Board of Ed’s shocking reaction to mother’s plea to reopen schools (11:40 mark) ([link removed])
* California Globe: Winning a war of attrition against government unions ([link removed])
* Watch: Carl DeMaio says California Democrats are aiming to intimidate voters with SB 663 ([link removed])
* Elk Grove News: Parents, students demand EGUSD resume five-day-a-week in-class instruction ([link removed])
* Fox News: Parents accuse California district of overuse of COVID tests in school reopening fight ([link removed])


Back to school?

First, enjoy this relatable cartoon from our friends at the Illinois Policy Institute:
* SF Gate: Gavin Newsom can’t guarantee California schools will be open in the fall. Why not? ([link removed])
* Newsweek: The pandemic didn’t create inequality. It revealed how broken public education is ([link removed])
* Fox News: NYC parent rips $54G-a-year private Manhattan school over ‘cancerous’ anti-racism policies ([link removed])
* KTVU: OUSD and teachers agree to go back full-time in fall, can’t resolve issues for rest of this year ([link removed])
* Pasadena Star-News: East Whittier school district, teachers agree on 3-foot limit for student desks ([link removed])


California closures and reopening :
* CalMatters: Key reason unemployment rate fell: Californians dropped out of workforce ([link removed])
* Orange County Register: OC will offer digital vaccine record as an option, not a mandate ([link removed])
* CalMatters: Newsom puts rosy spin on jobs report ([link removed])
* After COVID-19: Building an inclusive economy for California ([link removed])


Other things we’re reading
* San Diego charter school teachers charge union with illegal surveillance ([link removed])
* WSJ: How liberals explain the decision to leave California ([link removed]≷=US&ceid=US%3Aen)
* CalMatters: Bills would hamstring future California recalls ([link removed])


Connect with CPC:

Want to keep up with CPC and our partners during the week? Follow us on Twitter ([link removed]) , join our Facebook ([link removed]) community, and sign up to be part of the growing Parent Union ([link removed]) .

***

Chantal Lovell is the communications director for the California Policy Center.


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