cHArTERS

By Larry Sand
01/09/2018
We have barely unwrapped 2018, and the charter school haters are still partying like its 1992. Last week an article appeared in The Nation – the crusty old-world progressive rag that has been with us since Mr. Lincoln was shot – that blasted charter schools and dredged up the same tired old talking points the...

TAGS: Eva Moskowitz, Harlem Success Academy, Larry Sand, Michael Mulgrew, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Network for Public Education, teachers union, United Federation of Teachers

The Teachers Unions Faux Grassroots Organizing

By Larry Sand
07/12/2016
The Hedge Clippers, a union run and organized group, laughably pretends to be grassroots. The Hedge Clippers, born last year, is an anti-capitalist, left-wing, purportedly grassroots organization whose focus is on exposing “the mechanisms hedge funds and billionaires use to influence government and politics in order to expand their wealth, influence and power.” The group received...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, California Teachers Association, Citizens United, Dark money, Eva Moskowitz, Harlem Success Academy, Larry Sand, Mike Antonucci, National Education Association, Prop. 30, Randi Weingarten, teachers union, United Federation of Teachers

Preferring Failing Schools to Successful Ones

By Larry Sand
12/22/2015
Teacher union leaders want to keep poorly performing public schools open, but kill off thriving charters and voucher schools. Just last week it was announced in New York City that three failing public schools would be closing. With a total enrollment of 217 students, there really was no other choice. Indeed, it was such a...

TAGS: Charter schools, Dennis Van Roekel, Eva Moskowitz, Fordham Institute, Harlem Success Academy, Larry Sand, Michael Mulgrew, National Education Association, school choice, teachers union, United Federation of Teachers, vouchers

The Oasis Was a Mirage

By Larry Sand
03/10/2015
After failing miserably for almost ten years, a rare union-run charter school is mercifully shuttered. In September 2005, New York City’s United Federation of Teachers (UFT) president Randi Weingarten was frustrated and wanted to prove a point. She explained that the union was opening two charter schools so that it could “reclaim” the original charter...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, Center for Popular Democracy, Eva Moskowitz, Harlem Success Academy, In the Public Interest, Joel Klein, Larry Sand, Michael Mulgrew, Randi Weingarten, RiShawn Biddle, teachers union, United Federation of Teachers

NEA’s Sorry Spin

By Larry Sand
02/10/2015
The latest teachers union PR ploy is pure cowplop. “Persuading the People on Public Schools,” a National Education Association document posted by the The Daily Beast’s Conor Williams, details the union’s new communication strategy. Subtitled “Words to avoid … Words to Embrace,” the previously internal “research brief” gives us a look into the mindset of...

TAGS: D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, education reform, Eva Moskowitz, Harlem Success Academy, Larry Sand, Mike Antonucci, National Education Association, RiShawn Biddle, school choice, seniority, teachers union, tenure, Vergara

Empire Statement

By Larry Sand
02/03/2015
Andrew Cuomo becomes the latest governor to take on the teachers unions. Expanding vouchers to unaccountable private schools. Stripping teachers of their right to due process. Converting neighborhood public schools into privately run charter schools unanswerable to local school boards and taxpayers. Proceeding with tax cuts for the wealthy while starving public schools. Holy horrors! The above,...

TAGS: Andrew Cuomo, Chris Christie, Eva Moskowitz, Harlem Success Academy, Larry Sand, Michael Mulgrew, Mike Pence, National Education Association, New York State United Teachers, Rick Scott, Rick Snyder, RiShawn Biddle, Scott Walker, teachers union, United Federation of Teachers

UTLA Presidential Candidates Slam Charter Schools

By Larry Sand
02/25/2014
At a Los Angeles teachers union election forum, presidential contenders portray charter schools as a disease that needs to be eradicated. As reported by LA School Report’s Vanessa Romo, charter schools were a primary target at the February 20th symposium for presidential candidates of the United Teachers of Los Angeles. Actually, it seemed as if...

TAGS: California Charter School Association, Charter schools, Gloria Romero, Harlem Success Academy, Jason Riley, LA School Report, Larry Sand, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Nina Rees, United Teachers of Los Angeles