Comments on: The Fraud Of GOP Tax And School Choice Policy Shown In Arizona http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/27/the-fraud-of-gop-tax-and-school-choice-policy-shown-in-arizona/ Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:58:17 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Gitcheegumee http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/27/the-fraud-of-gop-tax-and-school-choice-policy-shown-in-arizona/#comment-192067 Gitcheegumee Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:56:23 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/27/the-fraud-of-gop-tax-and-school-choice-policy-shown-in-arizona/#comment-192067 <p>The Anatomy of the Walton Family’s Right Wing Agenda | The Walton …The Walton Family’s support of the school voucher and charter schools movement is unparalleled in the United States. According to the 2006 Walton Family …<br /><a href="http://www.waltoninfluence.com/influence/pages/wal_marts_conservative_agenda" rel="nofollow">www.waltoninfluence.com/influe.....ive_agenda</a></p> <p>Let’s not forget that the Waltons are in Arkansas, Blanche Lincoln and Mike Ross’ home turf.</p> The Anatomy of the Walton Family’s Right Wing Agenda | The Walton …The Walton Family’s support of the school voucher and charter schools movement is unparalleled in the United States. According to the 2006 Walton Family …
http://www.waltoninfluence.com/influe…..ive_agenda

Let’s not forget that the Waltons are in Arkansas, Blanche Lincoln and Mike Ross’ home turf.

]]> By: Gitcheegumee http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/27/the-fraud-of-gop-tax-and-school-choice-policy-shown-in-arizona/#comment-192065 Gitcheegumee Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:52:48 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/27/the-fraud-of-gop-tax-and-school-choice-policy-shown-in-arizona/#comment-192065 <p>Charter School Expenditures from 1998 - 2006<br /> Since the late 1990s, the Walton Family has been at the forefront of the charter school movement. Over the years, they have given hundreds of millions of dollars to various charter schools and ally organizations around the country. From the Walton Family Foundation 990 forms from 1998-2006, we have identified the various charter schools who have received donations from the Foundation and have also been able to generate trends and patterns that have emerged over the past decade in this area: </p> <p>•In 1998, the total amount of donations to charter schools was $1.9 million<br /> •In 2006, the total amount of donations to charter schools was $48.2 million. <strong>From 1998-200617, there has been a 2434% increase in the Walton Family Foundation’s donations to charter schools</strong></p> <p>waltoninfluence.com</p> Charter School Expenditures from 1998 – 2006
Since the late 1990s, the Walton Family has been at the forefront of the charter school movement. Over the years, they have given hundreds of millions of dollars to various charter schools and ally organizations around the country. From the Walton Family Foundation 990 forms from 1998-2006, we have identified the various charter schools who have received donations from the Foundation and have also been able to generate trends and patterns that have emerged over the past decade in this area:

•In 1998, the total amount of donations to charter schools was $1.9 million
•In 2006, the total amount of donations to charter schools was $48.2 million. From 1998-200617, there has been a 2434% increase in the Walton Family Foundation’s donations to charter schools

waltoninfluence.com

]]> By: jima62 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/27/the-fraud-of-gop-tax-and-school-choice-policy-shown-in-arizona/#comment-192055 jima62 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:04:55 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/27/the-fraud-of-gop-tax-and-school-choice-policy-shown-in-arizona/#comment-192055 <p>There’s clearly no simple fix. From a policy perspective, I think realizing all children can learn but many children are disenfranchised (often, but not exclusively the same children whose parents are disenfranchised) is a start, and hence setting federal policy to rectify local inequities is absolutely critical. Practically, this means more federal funding of education and higher taxes. Federal funding aside, I have seen grass roots methods work in other social policy areas, and I think they are applicable to educational issues, which at least at one level leads to a degree of local control. Probably the most important element is to be dispassionate in evaluating the success of different models while being extremely passionate about the need to create schools where there is an outstanding teacher in each classroom working with school leadership and the local community to make sure each child succeeds. Practically, that means a lot of citizen involvement and a willingness to listen to opposing points of view and work toward success, and tolerating some goofiness from parents and community members you disagree with provided that a common end result can be defined. The “Race to the Top” policy that the Department of Education is pushing actually makes sense to me, though I am wary of its possible disconnection from community input.</p> There’s clearly no simple fix. From a policy perspective, I think realizing all children can learn but many children are disenfranchised (often, but not exclusively the same children whose parents are disenfranchised) is a start, and hence setting federal policy to rectify local inequities is absolutely critical. Practically, this means more federal funding of education and higher taxes. Federal funding aside, I have seen grass roots methods work in other social policy areas, and I think they are applicable to educational issues, which at least at one level leads to a degree of local control. Probably the most important element is to be dispassionate in evaluating the success of different models while being extremely passionate about the need to create schools where there is an outstanding teacher in each classroom working with school leadership and the local community to make sure each child succeeds. Practically, that means a lot of citizen involvement and a willingness to listen to opposing points of view and work toward success, and tolerating some goofiness from parents and community members you disagree with provided that a common end result can be defined. The “Race to the Top” policy that the Department of Education is pushing actually makes sense to me, though I am wary of its possible disconnection from community input.

]]> By: bmaz http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/27/the-fraud-of-gop-tax-and-school-choice-policy-shown-in-arizona/#comment-192048 bmaz Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:34:11 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/27/the-fraud-of-gop-tax-and-school-choice-policy-shown-in-arizona/#comment-192048 <p>I agree with that; however, how are you going to “fix” public schools if you keep diverting off money, resources and students to alternatives? I don’t have the answer, and I haven’t seen one. At some point, I have a feeling the situation is simply hampered by the continued allowance of powerful local control of schools; it breeds inefficiency, inconsistency and control by idiots and nefarious interests. I can just imagine the screeching if it were taken away though; and even I as a mental image am not excited by national control. So what to do?</p> I agree with that; however, how are you going to “fix” public schools if you keep diverting off money, resources and students to alternatives? I don’t have the answer, and I haven’t seen one. At some point, I have a feeling the situation is simply hampered by the continued allowance of powerful local control of schools; it breeds inefficiency, inconsistency and control by idiots and nefarious interests. I can just imagine the screeching if it were taken away though; and even I as a mental image am not excited by national control. So what to do?

]]> By: jima62 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/27/the-fraud-of-gop-tax-and-school-choice-policy-shown-in-arizona/#comment-192044 jima62 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:24:56 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/27/the-fraud-of-gop-tax-and-school-choice-policy-shown-in-arizona/#comment-192044 <p>In reading the comments to this item, I hope progressives don’t fall into the Republican trap of ignoring information that challenges or refutes strongly held beliefs. The question of charter student academic performance v. traditional public school academic performance is a lot less clear cut than many posters have presented here. To cite one relatively unbiased source, Edsource (a California organization that aggregates information on ed policy issues, in reference to California charter performance: “Certain patterns in the performance have emerged based on these categories. For example, reports in 2007 through 2009 showed that, after controlling for differences in student background and school size, charter elementary schools do not perform as well as traditional elementary schools, while charter middle and high schools have outscored their traditional counterparts. Similarly, conversions tend to outscore start-ups, but not always by statistically significant margins. Further, classroom-based charters have consistently outperformed nonclassroom-based charters. ” While the relative merit of charter school models is mixed, what has been well documented is the systemic failure of many large urban public school districts to produce acceptable academic outcomes for most of their students (and unlike many posters here, I would be glad to prduce multiple citations backing this statement). Based on my understanding of the data available, I think the failure is in part due to inadequate funding (and the diversion of tax funds cited above to private schools and the affluent is an example of the poor policy decisions many states have made), but also due to poor deployment of available resources and flawed models of school organization. Simply put, to ignore the poor performance of many school systems is foolish, and to ignore delivery models that produce success, as some traditional public and some charter schools have, is the equivalent to acting like Republicans. Our children are best served when we approach educational policy with the same rigor in inquiry we use to approach environmental or foreign policy.</p> In reading the comments to this item, I hope progressives don’t fall into the Republican trap of ignoring information that challenges or refutes strongly held beliefs. The question of charter student academic performance v. traditional public school academic performance is a lot less clear cut than many posters have presented here. To cite one relatively unbiased source, Edsource (a California organization that aggregates information on ed policy issues, in reference to California charter performance: “Certain patterns in the performance have emerged based on these categories. For example, reports in 2007 through 2009 showed that, after controlling for differences in student background and school size, charter elementary schools do not perform as well as traditional elementary schools, while charter middle and high schools have outscored their traditional counterparts. Similarly, conversions tend to outscore start-ups, but not always by statistically significant margins. Further, classroom-based charters have consistently outperformed nonclassroom-based charters. ” While the relative merit of charter school models is mixed, what has been well documented is the systemic failure of many large urban public school districts to produce acceptable academic outcomes for most of their students (and unlike many posters here, I would be glad to prduce multiple citations backing this statement). Based on my understanding of the data available, I think the failure is in part due to inadequate funding (and the diversion of tax funds cited above to private schools and the affluent is an example of the poor policy decisions many states have made), but also due to poor deployment of available resources and flawed models of school organization. Simply put, to ignore the poor performance of many school systems is foolish, and to ignore delivery models that produce success, as some traditional public and some charter schools have, is the equivalent to acting like Republicans. Our children are best served when we approach educational policy with the same rigor in inquiry we use to approach environmental or foreign policy.

]]> By: bmaz http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/27/the-fraud-of-gop-tax-and-school-choice-policy-shown-in-arizona/#comment-192007 bmaz Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:46:37 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/27/the-fraud-of-gop-tax-and-school-choice-policy-shown-in-arizona/#comment-192007 <p>I would accuse you of being a paid troll, but your comments are far too simple minded and pathetic for that. Get lost.</p> I would accuse you of being a paid troll, but your comments are far too simple minded and pathetic for that. Get lost.

]]> By: tinman1967 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/27/the-fraud-of-gop-tax-and-school-choice-policy-shown-in-arizona/#comment-192005 tinman1967 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:39:27 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/27/the-fraud-of-gop-tax-and-school-choice-policy-shown-in-arizona/#comment-192005 <p>Don’t like Sun City residents? You must hate old people.<br /> Typical.<br /> Do you actually pay any income taxes anyway?</p> Don’t like Sun City residents? You must hate old people.
Typical.
Do you actually pay any income taxes anyway?

]]> By: bmaz http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/27/the-fraud-of-gop-tax-and-school-choice-policy-shown-in-arizona/#comment-191980 bmaz Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:51:52 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/27/the-fraud-of-gop-tax-and-school-choice-policy-shown-in-arizona/#comment-191980 <p>Yep, Strategic Vision has a Luntz like mainline tie to the conservative right. Thanks for the link.</p> <p>Thanks also to Phil Kovacs and JohnnyTable</p> Yep, Strategic Vision has a Luntz like mainline tie to the conservative right. Thanks for the link.

Thanks also to Phil Kovacs and JohnnyTable

]]> By: klynn http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/27/the-fraud-of-gop-tax-and-school-choice-policy-shown-in-arizona/#comment-191979 klynn Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:12:52 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/27/the-fraud-of-gop-tax-and-school-choice-policy-shown-in-arizona/#comment-191979 <blockquote><p>‘I’ve got mine, too bad for the rest of you.’</p></blockquote> <p>Just had a neighbor use those words. I was not surprised to them out of her mouth.</p>

‘I’ve got mine, too bad for the rest of you.’

Just had a neighbor use those words. I was not surprised to them out of her mouth.

]]> By: JohnnyTable70 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/27/the-fraud-of-gop-tax-and-school-choice-policy-shown-in-arizona/#comment-191978 JohnnyTable70 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:05:31 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/09/27/the-fraud-of-gop-tax-and-school-choice-policy-shown-in-arizona/#comment-191978 <p>Wouldn’t it be great if we could pick and chose which gov’t programs we like and fund those, and isolate ourselves and exempt us from paying what we either don’t need or want as in the case of Sun City residents. I would opt out of funding the war in Iraq (my taxes would only cover defensive weapons), bailing out wall st., tax breaks for KBR, Blackwater, Wal-Mart, etc.</p> Wouldn’t it be great if we could pick and chose which gov’t programs we like and fund those, and isolate ourselves and exempt us from paying what we either don’t need or want as in the case of Sun City residents. I would opt out of funding the war in Iraq (my taxes would only cover defensive weapons), bailing out wall st., tax breaks for KBR, Blackwater, Wal-Mart, etc.

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