CAPE: Committee to Combat Attacks on Public Education

Connect to Empower Quick suggestion would be re: connecting with us and getting the message out there is the importance of grassroots/organic shares to get things seen especially on Facebook with their limits on who sees stuff. For instance, the recent post of the speech by Texas superintendent John Kuhn about education reform being the "civil wrongs" of our era was seen by 4,100+ people, was shared 31 times, etc. This helps get around Facebook's "we want ad money" throttling. If people have their own Twitter accounts, signal boosting work of their local, the #IEAHelpsOut material and our CAPE work would help too.

Our Goals Partners with other locals Active members of the community Share what you do! Combat attacks through POSITIVE press and presence in YOUR community

Connect With Us https://ieanea.org/about/committees/cape/

#IEAhelpsout How We Get There YOU!!! Put yourself and your local out there: #IEAhelpsout What are you already doing in your community? Share it!

#IEAhelpsout #IEAhelpsout These @ieanea SCORE grant recipients started a recycling program at their high school.

#IEAhelpsout Very cool work by IEA/DEA members helping with an art project at Baum Elementary! #IEAHelpsOut

#IEAhelpsout Gavin Education Association making and delivering 30 Thanksgiving meals. #IEAhelpsout

Private, for profit charter schools using public funds Private, for profit charter schools using public funds. What could possibly go wrong? Some headlines… Arizona: Online High School, Collects $10 Million Profit in One Year, and DeVos Wants More of Them From Diane Ravitch's blog - Tuesday, February, 28, 2017 The Charter School Profiteers - In Detroit charter schools, mismanagement and opportunistic "education entrepreneurs" thrive. From JACOBIN Magazine, July 28 2014 Privatization or Public Investment in Education? From SCOPE - Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education, November 15, 2016 Charter schools' 'thorny' problem: Few students go on to earn college degrees From USA TODAY, Tuesday, March 14, 2017. Texas Ed Commissioner Abruptly Suspends Operations of SASIC Charter Schools Due to Apparent Criminal Background Check and Health Violations From Mercedes Schneider's EduBlog, Saturday, March 11, 2017  An alarming study links fraud in the Enron scandal to similar practices at charter schools From BUSINESS INSIDER  --  March 8, 2017.

“Benefits” of Charter Schools More choices for students Charters must currently show that they are filling a need. If there is a high enough demand, a public school can already fill the need. More autonomy - local control Currently, local school boards have a say in whether or not a public charter school can open in their area. Current state administration advocates opening charters without local school board request. Diversity While public charters cannot discriminate, they can and do limit by numbers, which can lead to less diversity. Private charters can create their own criteria for entry and students can be removed and sent to public schools. Not all services available at public schools would be available for students at public or private charter schools.

“Benefits” of Charter Schools (cont.) Higher student achievement No evidence has shown that student achievement is improved simply due to being in a charter. Smaller class sizes and greater parental involvement have an equivalent impact on students in public, public charter, and private charter schools. Access District consolidation has been necessary because of budget issues, leading to the closing of many school buildings. Creating charter schools in these districts will lead to increased taxes, or the funding would come from the existing public school infrastructure. Better teachers There is no evidence that teachers at public or private charters are better than non-charter public school teachers. Smaller class sizes and the ability to deviate from standardized curriculum might be a draw for some teachers. Evaluation systems for private charter schools are not the same as for public and public charter schools.

“Benefits” of Charter Schools (cont.) Parent input on curriculum The attitude that “My children should be taught what I believe” can lead to students being taught illogical or inaccurate material. Smaller class sizes If we want them, there is a cost. More schools equals more administrators, more teachers and support staff.

This is happening across our state! A Public School District in Illinois Public Elementary District: Pre-K – Grade 8 7 buildings, 2700 students Administrative Team: 6 Principals District Office: Superintendent Associate Sup. (2) Asst. Sup (2)

A Public Charter in the Same District High School: 9 – 12 * Population: 500 students (selected by lottery list) * Tuition: None paid Administrative Team: CEO (Elementary Dist. Sup.) Day to Day Operations Supervisor Director of Special Ed. Chief Executive Officer of Spec. Ed. Elementary Admin Team (Unofficially) Academic Advisor Dean of Students (2) Special Asst. to the Super. Counselor

What it is doing to the community… Admin/Director Meetings (Ran the same time by the same people) Drained the public high school which has led to layoffs, loss of funds, etc. Communities are misled by false information of charter. Difficult to distinguish the duties when they are sharing duties. Certain services are out-sourced Public School is about ALL students, not the chosen few. Do not have their own building, are using the elementary district for their facility. And many other issues.

Where does that leave us? Connect Connect with us Connect with someone in your region or district Share Promote positivity and involvement in and for the local community Speak up Be empowered!

May Day Walk-In May 1, 2017 Invite your community to join you 30 minutes before your day begins to celebrate the good things your public school has to offer.

Curriculum that is engaging, culturally relevant and challenging AROS Five Pillars Curriculum that is engaging, culturally relevant and challenging High quality teaching, not high stakes testing Wrap-Around supports Positive discipline practices such as restorative justice Transformational parent and community engagement AROS Five Pillars Curriculum that is engaging, culturally relevant and challenging High quality teaching, not high stakes testing Wrap-Around supports Positive discipline practices such as restorative justice Transformational parent and community engagement

IFT LOCAL Walk Ins Each local chooses the theme and purpose of their walk in Farmington IL School Funding for K12 Call to Legislators Lockport, IL Contract Campaign Administrator Change Venice, IL “Schools Our Children Deserve” Woodstock, IL Active Membership Chicago, IL – 150 Schools! “Schools Our Children Deserve” Bargaining for Common Good Top Line Message – “Schools Our Children Deserve” Think of it as a big tent Within that tent we can have many different causes Local in flavor Connect to Broad Message Here in IL have had experience already Northfield, IL “Schools Our Children Deserve” Peoria, IL Early Childhood Ed Funding New Lenox, IL Funding for Graduating Seniors Higher Ed Crisis in IL McHenry, IL Higher Ed Funding

Ideas for your May Day Walk-In 1-2 students to give a short speech telling why they love their school. Ex: Hold a school contest and choose 2 to read their speech 1-2 staff to give a short speech telling why they love working at their school with a focus on students. Invite a parent/PTO member to speak to their efforts for students and the school Band/Choir to play/sing school song Art classes make signs for students to hold; “I love my public school” Any other ideas your school creates. Sample Opening/closing statements can be found on handout and on the CAPE website

Thank you for your support! We are your IEA CAPE Committee

Where do I get more info? Connect with your UniServ director or Region Chair IEA website NEA website Research Resources on Attacks on Public Education Connect with us Twitter: @CAPE_Illinois Facebook.com/CAPEILLINOIS CAPE website: CAPEillinois.com Connect locally