Citizens Media Resource: March 2014

House Bill 1693 and Senate Bill 1684 would allow for-profit corporations to come into Tennessee and take your and my tax dollars for the benefit of their shareholders -- not for the benefit of a single man, woman or child in Tennessee.

House Education Committee meets today (April 1) to consider this heinous act. The crime scene will be Room HHR16 at High Noon.

Go to this link to get their names, phone numbers and email addresses:
https://treetn.org/act/

Here is what we told them:

"Dear House Education Committee Member,

"HB1693 is perhaps the most cynical and criminal bill of this session, and it is incredible that you would even consider letting out-of-state For-Profit Corporations loot our state treasury in the guise of education. Shame on you if you go along with this corporate sell-out.

"The state already ships about $20 million a year out of state to K12Inc., whose CEO last year was paid $5+ million – it is expensive to live in a suburb of Washington D.C., after all. And, this Corporation pretending to be a school, which has already been caught cheating the state on its enrollment, is the worst-performing we have, from Mountain City to the Peabody lobby.

"The best interests of Tennessee children and families should drive education in the State Legislature – not a publicly traded corporation’s EBITDA or how large a yacht its CEO can buy.

"My grandmother was a third-grade teacher and her sister was Mildred Doyle, superintendent of Knox County schools for 25 years. Some of you may have heard of her. They must be rolling over in their graves at the dismantling of education which has occurred on your watch. We see plenty of rolling over at Legislative Plaza these days – those of you who are rolling over for lobbyists and campaign contributions.

"Shame on you if you can’t stand up for the people in your home towns who depend on you."

www.CitizensMediaResource.com

More Info

Charter School Gravy Train Runs Express To Fat City (Forbes)

Charter Schools Part III: Cashing In on Education (StateImpact)

The big business of charter schools (Washington Post)

White Hat Management: Ohio Charter School Giant (StateImpact)

SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL
THE KILLING OFF OF FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION IN AMERICA CONTINUES IN NASHVILLE, AND THIS WEEK WILL BE CRITICAL. BELOW THE FOLLOWING SUMMARIES ARE EMAILS AND CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE RELEVANT TN SENATE AND TN HOUSE MEMBERS AS WELL AS EXCELLENT INFORMATION AND LINKS FROM TENNESSEANS RECLAIMING EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE https://treetn.org/act/ AND AMERICANS UNITED FOR SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE http://www.nashville-au.org/ THE TENNESSEE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WEB SITE HAS THE GOODS ON ALL OF THIS, AND THIS LINKS VOUCHER BILLS: http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/indexes/BillsBySubject.aspx?Primarysubject=4271&GA=108

I AM FOCUSING ON 3 BILLS: 1—VOUCHER BILLS; 2—FOR-PROFIT CHARTER MANAGEMENT; 3—STATE CHARTER AUTHORIZER.

THE FOLLOWING OUTLINES THEIR ACTION. YOUR ACTION CAN BE TO INFLUENCE THEM TO VOTE AGAINST THESE BILLS.

SCHEDULE SUMMARY MARCH 17-19, 2014:

4 P.M. MONDAY, MARCH 17. FULL SENATE VOTES ON CHARTER AUTHORIZER BILL SB0830 AT THEIR SESSION IN SENATE CHAMBERS.

EMAILS OF THE FULL SENATE:

3 P.M. TUESDAY, MARCH 18. HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTES ON VOUCHER BILL HB0190 WHEN IT MEETS IN ROOM HHR16.

HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE CONTACTS:

Vouchers
If you’d rather, e-mail Finance committee members directly by following this link. You can also call representatives and respectfully ask them to vote no on Vouchers:

Charles Sargent (Chair) 615-741-6808
David Alexander (Vice-Chair) 615-741-8695
Joe Armstrong 615-741-0768
Kevin Brooks 615-741-1350
Kent Calfee 615-741-7658
Karen Camper 615-741-1898
Mike Carter 615-741-3025

Barbara Cooper 615-741-4295
Craig Fitzhugh 615-741-2134
Steve Hall 615-741-2287
Michael Harrison 615-741-7480
David Hawk 615-741-7482
Matthew Hill 615-741-2251

Curtis Johnson 615-741-4341
Gerald McCormick 615-741-2548
Steve McDaniel 615-741-0750
Larry Miller 615-741-4453
Gary Odom 615-741-4410
Dennis Roach 615-741-2534
Johnny Shaw 615-741-4538

HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE EMAILS:

8 A.M. AND 3 P.M. TUESDAY, MARCH 18, AND 8 A.M. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19. HOUSE EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE MEETS IN HHR30. ON THEIR AGENDA ARE VOUCHER BILLS HB2428 (SPONSORED BY CHARLES SARGENT OF BRENTWOOD) AND HB1908 (SPONSORED BY JOHN DEBERRY OF MEMPHIS).

EMAILS OF HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE (DON’T BOTHER PICKING OUT THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS; THEY ALL NEED TO HEAR THIS)

rep.harry.brooks@capitol.tn.gov; rep.john.forgety@capitol.tn.gov; rep.raumesh.akbari@capitol.tn.gov; rep.kevin.brooks@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jim.coley@capitol.tn.gov; rep.john.deberry@capitol.tn.gov; rep.bill.dunn@capitol.tn.gov; rep.roger.kane@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ron.lollar@capitol.tn.gov; rep.harold.love@capitol.tn.gov; rep.debra.moody@capitol.tn.gov; rep.joe.pitts@capitol.tn.gov; rep.dawn.white@capitol.tn.gov; mark.white@capitol.tn.gov ;rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov

NOON, TUESDAY, MARCH 18. HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETS IN HHR 16. HOUSE BILL 1693 FURTHERS PRIVATIZATION OF EDUCATION AND THE TRAVEL OF TENNESSEE TAX DOLLARS OUT OF STATE AS IT ALLOWS FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS TO MANAGE CHARTER SCHOOLS.

HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE EMAILS:

9:30 A.M. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19. SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETS IN 12LP, AND THEY HAVE ALL THREE VOUCHER BILLS ON THEIR SLATE: SB0196 NORRIS, KELSEY, SUMMERVILLE; SB2455 GRESHAM; SB2025 KELSEY

FULL SENATE EMAILS. THEY ALL NEED TO HEAR THIS, SO I HAVE NOT PICKED OUT THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE:

1--- THERE ARE ACTUALLY THREE VOUCHER BILLS*, MISNAMED AS “OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS,” WHICH ARE MOSTLY THE SAME. THESE WOULD TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM TAXPAYERS AND HAND IT OVER TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS, WHICH FOR THE MOST PART WILL HAVE RELIGIOUS AGENDAS (97% IN INDIANA). DO YOU WANT YOUR TAX DOLLARS TO FUND SOMEONE ELSE’S RELIGION? IF YOU WANT YOUR MONEY TO GO TO A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION, WOULDN’T YOU RATHER PUT IT IN THE COLLECTION PLATE ON SUNDAY – OR SOMEWHERE ELSE OF YOUR CHOOSING?

HOUSE ACTION DATE: AT 3 P.M. TUESDAY MARCH 18 THE HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE MEETS IN HHR 16 AND WILL VOTE ON HOUSE BILL 0190. OF THE THREE VOUCHER BILLS, THIS ONE IS FARTHEST ALONG, HAVING MADE IT OUT OF THE EDUCATION AND OPERATIONS COMMITTEES.

NOTE FROM AMERICANS UNITED:

“There was a tie vote in the House Finance Subcomittee last week (two Republicans joined the Democrats) - until Speaker Harwell stepped in and voted for vouchers. Next the full committee votes, and the addresses of the added members are below. If we can get the three Democrats and TWO Republicans to vote NO, that should defeat the bill.”

HB0190 by McCormick - FINANCE, WAYS & MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE:
Recommended for passage w/amendments- refer to: Finance, Ways & Means Committee 3/5/2014
Passed
          Ayes................................................7
          Noes................................................6

          Representatives voting aye were: Brooks K, Harrison, Hawk, McCormick, McDaniel, Sargent, Harwell -- 7.
          Representatives voting no were: Alexander, Armstrong, Camper, Fitzhugh, Odom, Roach -- 6.

YOUR ACTION: INFLUENCE HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO SNUFF THIS BILL. CHARLES SARGENT OF BRENTWOOD IS CHAIRMAN OF THIS COMMITTEE.

HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE CONTACTS, FROM TENNESSEANS RECLAIMING EDUCATION EXCELLENCE:

Vouchers
If you’d rather, e-mail Finance committee members directly by following this link. You can also call representatives and respectfully ask them to vote no on Vouchers:

Barbara Cooper 615-741-4295
Craig Fitzhugh 615-741-2134
Steve Hall 615-741-2287
Michael Harrison 615-741-7480
David Hawk 615-741-7482
Matthew Hill 615-741-2251

Curtis Johnson 615-741-4341
Gerald McCormick 615-741-2548
Steve McDaniel 615-741-0750
Larry Miller 615-741-4453
Gary Odom 615-741-4410
Dennis Roach 615-741-2534
Johnny Shaw 615-741-4538

HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE EMAILS:

*HOUSE BILL AND SENATE COMPANION VOUCHER BILLS: HB0190/SB0196; HB2428/SB2455; HB1908/SB2025. HB2428 IS SPONSORED BY REP. CHARLES SARGENT OF BRENTWOOD.

2— FOR-PROFIT CHARTER MANAGEMENT CORPORATIONS. FULL HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETS AT NOON TUESDAY, MARCH 18, IN ROOM HHR 16. HOUSE BILL 1693 FURTHERS PRIVATIZATION OF EDUCATION AND THE TRAVEL OF TENNESSEE TAX DOLLARS OUT OF STATE AS IT ALLOWS FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS TO MANAGE CHARTER SCHOOLS.

EMAILS OF HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE:

3--CHARTER AUTHORIZER BILL, SB0830. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO OVERRIDE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM DENIALS OF CHARTER SCHOOLS WHICH APPLY TO TAKE THE PLACE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUT WHICH ARE FOUND INADEQUATE BY THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS.

FINAL VOTE OF THE FULL SENATE AT 4 P.M. MONDAY, MARCH 17, IN THE SENATE CHAMBER. IF THE SENATE APPROVES THIS BILL, IT WILL BECOME LAW AFTER HASLAM SIGNS IT. THE HOUSE COUNTERPART BILL, HB0702, HAS ALREADY PASSED THE FULL HOUSE.

CURIOUS IT IS HOW THESE REPUBLICANS WHO HOLLER TO HIGH HEAVEN ABOUT GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE FROM WASHINGTON CAN MAKE A 180-DEGREE IDEALOGICAL TURN WHEN IT COMES TO THE STATE CAPITAL REIGNING DOWN ON THE COUNTIES AND HINTERLANDS.

THIS LAW WOULD FURTHER ERODE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND LOCAL DECISION-MAKING. ANOTHER BLOW TO THE BODY OF FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION IN AMERICA.

EMAILS OF TN SENATORS:

RECAP FROM TENNESSEANS RECLAIMING EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE:

Among the most pressing issues:

1) School Vouchers: Bad for Tennessee because it drains money from public school funding and gives it to private schools. This bill is up for its final committee vote in the House Finance Committee on Tuesday at 3 p.m. If it passes, it goes to the House floor for a final vote.

2) For-Profit Charters: Bad for Tennessee because for-profit companies are responsible to their stockholders first, not our kids. This bill is up for its final committee vote in the House Education Committee on Tuesday at 3 p.m. If it passes, it goes to the House floor for a final vote.

3) Charter Authorizer: Bad for Tennessee because this bill creates a new unelected panel with authority to overrule local boards of education regarding what schools to open and fund. This bill is up for its final vote on Monday on the Senate floor. If it passes, the Governor will sign it into law.

The Tennessee Department of Education has enjoyed full support from the US Department of Education with reforms but Commissioner Huffman is taking it too far. This is our chance to shut down the pet policies of Kevin Huffman remove opportunities for investors just looking to turn a profit on the backs of our children. More than ever, we need you to act now!

PROFIT SCHEMES LAID OUT IN DAILYRECKONING.COM:

http://dailyreckoning.com/a-despicable-way-to-use-education/

Citizens Media Resource

Monday, March 31, 2014

State Lawmakers Consider Sell-Out of Your Kids' Education

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Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Spying on Us, a Timeline in History

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Lawmakers Take Aim at Free Public Education in Tennessee