Cracking the Education Monopoly: Los Angeles parents demand choice - and get it.

In "Unlocked," Reason.tv told the story of the successful fight to transform Locke High, one of Los Angeles most notorious public high schools, into a charter school.

Charters are public schools, often run by private nonprofit organizations, that give students an alternative to traditional schools and principals and teachers more local control over how campuses are run. The transformation of Locke High, completed over objections from the teachers union, marked the first time an existing school in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) was turned into a charter school.

On August 25, 2009, the LAUSD took another major step toward cracking the public school monopoly in the nation's second-largest school district.

Thousands gathered in downtown Los Angeles to sound off on a revolutionary school choice resolution put before the school board. Parents donning My child, My choice t-shirts faced off against union members and others who opposed the resolution, which would give students in some of LAs worst schools the choice to attend charter schools. In the end, the resolution passed by a six-to-one vote. Now, roughly 250 of LAUSDs 800 traditional public schools are eligible to become charters.

"Cracking the Education Monopoly" is produced by Ted Balaker and Hawk Jensen, who also narrates. Nathan Chaffetz field produced.

Go to http://reason.tv for downloadable versions, related links, and more videos.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• LAUSD
• LA Unified
• my child my choice
• UTLA
• school choice
• green dot
• vote for change
• freedom of choice
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[putittogether]

These teachers in the teachers union make me sick, SELFISH SELFISH SELFISH. Pigs, they are pigs nothing more,

And I tell public school teachers in the unions that every time I see them. You should too. They should resign from the union, and resign from their school if they cant teach with out being in the union.

But to stand on the teachers union side....ITS Sicking, they are weak, petty, greedy, selfish, intentionally hurtful to children, they worst kind of humans.

I have to vomit now.

[mammuru]

I can't agree more! Unions are corrupt profiting machines that favors one group over the other by getting legal force on their side.

[felpaluche]

parents must be forceful for the children's good.

[dela5150]

@putittogether ...it's pretty apparent that you're not mentally stable. Unfortunately that's not always clear to everyone who may possibly lend an ear to your ignorant ramblings. Educate yourself before you fly off the handle. ...and don't forget to take your meds!

[aweinsto]

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[hyetalian1]

You think those teachers would work harder to keep kids from leaving their schools by becoming better teachers instead of try to pass legislation that will prevent them from moving to other schools thus giving teachers no incentive to improve themselves.

[kwtulloss]

Hey that's my pastor in this video, Pastor K.W. Tulloss! What a leader for the people. It's my child and my choice.

[147baller]

I have one question...how does the special education fit into these charter schools??? Oh wait...they don't! Again, segregation!

[umrmecheman]

this is one of the best areas for the GOP to win over blacks. they aren't beholden to the teacher's unions that have failed so many minorities. the charters in DC are yielding fantastic results especially for hispanics and blacks.

[Questfortruth86]

Without school competition, the poor will forever remain poor.

[jerrysmith29]

Union is mafia working for their own interests

[jdmac4]

Unions take money from the poor and set up systems in which the select few with connections get the greatest benefits while the rank and file pay for corporate lobbyist and democratic and republican campaigns.

It is theft for an entity outside of the government to have the right to take your money without your choice.

The teachers who actually care about the kids more than their union bosses should go on strike against their union.