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In This Issue / Sep. 2, 2014

Michigan voters want more transparency from charter school management companies
Get connected to teachers across the county with NEA's Works4Me
California teacher unions appeal tenure decision

Michigan voters want more transparency from charter school management companiesA recent EPIC-MRA poll of 600 likely voters showed that 82 percent of them believe that for-profit management companies should be required to publicly explain how they're spending the $1 billion in taxpayer dollars they're getting from the state.
The poll follows an investigative report by the Detroit Free Press which shows that there is a serious lack of accountability, transparency and academic achievement coming from for-profit companies that run charter schools in Michigan. Last year, 61 percent of charter schools operating in the state were run by for-profit companies.
As a result of the series, State Superintendent Mike Flanagan put 11 of the state's 40 charter authorizers on an "at-risk list" because of poor academic performance, financial problems, or a failure to meet Michigan Department of Education requirements.
The poll also shows that 88 percent favor legislation that requires for-profit management companies to explain how they spend the state's money. In an effort to remove the profit motive from education, 61 percent also want to prohibit any future charter schools from being opened by for-profit companies.

Get connected to teachers across the county with NEA's Works4Me NEA's Works4Me is a free weekly newsletter with practical classroom tips written by teachers for teachers. There are tips and best ideas on classroom management, teaching techniques, curriculum, content, and more. When you sign up to receive the newsletter, you'll join other Michigan teachers who have already provided tips and suggestions.
Works4Me also provides an online discussion board that connects you to other teachers across the country. It's a place to post questions about everyday classroom situations or dilemmas and get answers and advice.

California teacher unions appeal tenure decisionThe California's Teachers Association (CTA) and the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) have appealed the Los Angeles Superior Court's decision to strip state educators of their tenure rights. The action by the teacher unions follows a similar appeal by the State of California and California Gov. Jerry Brown
The appeals seek to restore tenure and due process rights of teachers against unfair arbitrary terminations.
In June, in the case of Vergara v. California, California Judge Rolf Treu ruled that tenure and job protections for California teachers were unconstitutional. The lawsuit was brought by nine students who claimed they had teachers who let classrooms get out of control or came to school unprepared, among other reasons. The case was backed by wealthy Silicon Valley businessman, David Welch. He is the founder of Students Matter and has ties to Michelle Rhee and her anti-public education organizations, Students First.
In his ruling, Treu said that all students are entitled to equal education and the current situation discriminates against minority and low-income students in placing ineffective teachers in their schools.