BREAKING: Moratorium on New Charter Schools (#SB756) Clears Senate Education Committee.

It’s tough being a charter school advocate in California these days. Not only are the schools facing fierce opposition from the Democratic-controlled Legislature, teachers unions and a governor whom their backers spent millions trying to keep out of office, they also have the most politically toxic ally possible in California state politics: President Donald Trump.

In the heart of the city of Carson in Southern California, a fight is brewing to save much-needed resources for students and the community. Catskill elementary classrooms and resources are being threatened by the charter company Ganas, Inc., which has initiated the process to co-locate onto the Catskill campus against the wishes of the community.

Today’s LA School Voice Live with Alex: We build on our wins for much-needed school funding with Measure EE on June 14, with guest teacher Georgia Flowers-Lee. We double-down for BD5 candidate Jackie Goldberg, with educator Jennifer Villaroyo. We remain on front lines in fights against co-location and for charter accountability. #wearepublicschools #UTLAstrong

Widespread opposition to a charter company moving onto campus has sparked a fierce push-back from Catskill Elementary in Carson. Just as UTLA was heading into our strike, the Catskill community got wind that GANAS charter corporation had been offered space on their campus, threatening the well-rounded programs the school has built for their students.

Fueled by a new package of charter-focused bills, parents, students, and educators have been meeting with lawmakers in Sacramento and Los Angeles to press for a moratorium on charter expansion and for common-sense accountability and oversight for the corporate charter industry. 

As our strike demonstrated, when educators talk about what students need, people listen. Here’s an FAQ to guide conversations with friends and family to encourage support on June 4 for this critically needed measure. The funding status quo is unsustainable, and Measure EE is one step to turn things around. 

Today’s LA School Voice Live with Alex: update on retro pay, Sacto strike, and parents and teachers on front lines in fights against co-location and for charter accountability. #wearepublicschools #UTLAstrong

In the heart of the city of Carson in Southern California, a fight is brewing to save much-needed resources for students and the community. Catskill elementary classrooms and resources are being threatened by the charter company Ganas, Inc., which has initiated the process to co-locate onto the Catskill campus against the wishes of the community.

Watch the broadcast* every Monday *Broadcasts will run till the end of the school year. Live on social media @4pm     Send us an email, ask Alex questions:  Laschoolvoice@utla.net     Ad paid for by Political Action Council of...

The latest battle brewing in the Southland charter school debate erupted this week, when nearly 100 parents, teachers, students and other community members gathered at Veterans Park, in Carson, to protest district plans to offer a portion of Catskill Avenue Elementary School to the newly formed Ganas Academy Charter School in the fall. #SaveCatskill #HarborArea #UTLAStrong #WeArePublicSChools

Adrian De La Cruz, an 11th-grade student at LAUSD/USC MAE Magnet School, epitomizes the movement growing out of East Los Angeles to support public education and stop privatization. With his mother and sisters, he was part of Reclaim Our Schools Los Angeles’s Leadership Action School.

UTLA members went back on the picket lines before school on February 22 to show support for striking educators in Oakland and to demand action on two items that will help all California schools: increased per-pupil funding and an immediate cap on the unregulated growth of the charter industry.

West Virginia sparked the nationwide teacher rebellion with their two-week, statewide walkout in 2018. One year after their historic walkout, West Virginia educators went on strike again to stop a pro-privatization, anti-union bill.

  The warning signs appeared soon after Denise Kawamoto accepted a job at Today’s Fresh Start Charter School in South Los Angeles. Though she was fresh out of college, she was pretty sure it wasn’t normal for the school to churn so quickly...