Bernie Sanders Calls for Ban on For-Profit Charter Schools, $60K Minimum Salary for Teachers

[Uncle Joe]

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) unveiled his education plan in a speech Saturday in South Carolina, calling for a ban on for-profit charter schools, an increase in teacher pay to no less than $60,000, and universal school meals.

The release of the policy proposal, which the campaign refers to as the “Thurgood Marshall Plan for Public Education & Educators,” is pegged to the 65th anniversary weekend of the Supreme Court’s landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, which desegregated public schools.

In addition to calling for a ban on for-profit charters, Sanders became the first 2020 presidential candidate to pledge support for the NAACP’s call for a moratorium on public funding for charter-school expansion until a national audit can be done to ascertain the impact of charter growth. The original intent of charters was positive, especially to serve students with unique needs, but, according to Sanders, they have negatively impacted communities of color by taking away money from public schools.

The senator’s plan included a number of reforms to existing charter-school regulations: Requiring charters to comply with the same oversight requirements as public schools; mandating that at least half of all charter boards are composed of teachers and parents; disclosing student attrition rates, non-public funding sources, financial interests and other relevant data; supporting efforts for charter-school teachers to unionize; and matching employment practices at charters with other district schools, including restrictions to CEO pay.

(snip)


https://www.thedailybeast.com/bernie-sanders-calls-for-ban-on-for-profit-charter-schools-dollar60k-minimum-salary-for-teachers

[Uncle Joe]

1. And now for a musical interlude.

[Blue_true]

6. Thanks Uncle Joe. That brought back memories of me messing my diaper so long ago. nt

[appalachiablue]

2. End the private charters racket destroying public schools

[SMC22307]

5. And kick Betsy DeVos and her greedy goons to the curb. (n/t)

[Duppers]

3. K & R

[comradebillyboy]

4. Bernie doesn't seem to know that teacher salaries and

school funding are all done at the state level. Is he proposing to federalize primary and secondary education and bring teachers and other school workers under Civil Service? Or is it just another pony under the Christmas tree?

Bernie doesn't seem to know how the US education system works at all. He doesn't seem to understand basic economics or foreign affairs either. It's why there is never a road map on how to get to his utopian fantasies. He just wants to be Santa Claus.

[Blue_true]

8. You make a good point, $60,000 would be a weak salary in San Francisco, Seattle, LA, New York City.

A better proposal would be for teachers to start at a salary of 85% what the Mayor is paid in big cities and 90% of what the County Sheriff is paid in small places.

[comradebillyboy]

9. That5's why teacher contracts are negotiated district by district.

Sill most teacher are underpaid but teacher contracts need to be responsive to local conditions.

[Blue_true]

10. I agree. nt

[corbettkroehler]

11. If We Have A Federal Minimum Wage For Workers In General, Why Not A Special One For Teachers?

It's about ending the exploitation and doing everything in our power to retain our status as the leading economic superpower by ensuring the next generation receive the best possible education. Paying teachers less than they could earn flipping burgers must be a top priority. I should know: my parents are retired public school teachers, chronically underpaid.

[comradebillyboy]

12. Teachers are state employees not federal. Congress won't pass

a $15 minimum wage so I can't see them involving the federal government in state salary scales. Additionally the cost of living is highly variable from one place to another. Simple solutions to complex problems rarely work.

[Politicub]

7. Yes! For-profit charter schools are a waste of money

Providing a public education is a function of government. For-profit charter schools are a function of business, and they have no vested interest in student achievement.

I like Bernie's approach to education. It's a check in the plus column for me.