K-12 Charters and Privatizing of Schools: GOP are all in even though they DO NOT SHOW GAINS promised.

http://www.alternet.org/education/2016-candidates-take-confusing-or-disappointing-stances-charter-schools?akid=14106.294211.RNPQXc&rd=1&src=newsletter1053273&t=2

CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE KILLING EDUCATION IN AMERICA, I think.  I am a retired teacher.

With all the presidential campaign talk about inequality and making Wall Street bow down to Main Street, you might think candidates—at least Democrats—would have lots to say about one of the biggest privatization trends in America today: the takeover of K-12 public schools by billionaire-backed, corporate-style charter schools.

But they don’t. As Diane Ravitch, a nationally known public education advocate, author and blogger recently said, “The 2016 presidential campaign is notable for the near total absence of discussion of K-12 education.” Ravitch, who was Assistant Secretary of Education from 1991-'93 under President George H.W. Bush, has extensively noted how federal policies in the past 15 years have been a disaster for public schools, from overreliance on standardized tests to the taxpayer-subsidized growth of privately run charter schools, especially the national franchises dominating the industry.

“With all this turmoil in the nation’s schools, caused by Washington policies, you would think that the candidates might have something to say about their plans to bolster the public schools,” Ravitch said. “If you thought so, you would be wrong. The Republicans all endorse both vouchers and privately managed charter schools, which are heavily funded by the Koch brothers, the Walton Foundation, and others who see them as a way to get rid of teachers’ unions. The Democrats, with only minor digressions, have avoided talking about schools, although they are quite eager to talk about preschool and higher education.”