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Parents win - LAUSD board votes down Zimmer resolution!

November 14, 2012

In September, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board member Steve Zimmer proposed a resolution that would limit parent choice by not allowing any new charters and adding more bureaucracy on existing charter schools.

Yesterday, the LAUSD board voted against this misguided resolution in response to a huge outpouring from charter school parents.

Did parents make a difference? Let us count the ways!

Hundreds of parents showed up and spoke out when the resolution was introduced in September.

-->> Boardmember Zimmer promised to make revisions.

In October, you made hundreds of calls and sent hundreds of emails. Parents presented more than 2,000 parent signatures against the resolution to the board. Parents told their stories and spoke out in the media.

-->> Boardmember Zimmer delayed the vote to the day after a holiday, hoping parents would stop paying attention.

Yesterday, more than 1,500 parents rallied in front of the LAUSD board room!

-->> *Victory! The LAUSD board voted against this resolution! *

Board President Monica Garcia and Boardmember Tamar Galatzan addressed parents at our rally, affirming their support for parent choice and high-quality charter schools. Both voted against the resolution, as did Nury Martinez and Richard Vladovic. Only Steve Zimmer and Bennett Kayser voted in favor; Marguerite LaMotte left the room during the vote.

Parents spoke and yesterday, our elected representatives listened!

Check out this video blog from Corri Ravare, Executive Director of Families That Can, in response to the board decision.

• Check out photos from yesterday and post thank you notes to the board members who stood with parents on our Facebook page.
• Read news coverage of the rally.

Do parents have power?

We know they do!

What's next?

Every day, our elected representatives make major decisions that affect our schools and our students. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has been a tremendous champion for charter schools and improving our public schools (See what he said at our rally earlier this year.)

In March, we will have the chance to decide not only who will lead our city as mayor, but who will represent us on the LAUSD school board. Three seats are up for election! In the coming months, Families That Can will be hosting workshops and events including voter education forums with LA school board candidates to educate, empower and mobilize charter school parents. Contact FTC if you or a group of parents from your school community are interested in hosting a meet and greet with LAUSD board of education candidates or with current board members. Make sure parents at your school sign up for our free newsletter and action alerts so they don't miss out!

And save the date for our annual statewide Charter School Parent Summit, which this year will take place in San Diego on May 17!