Today’s Action: Support the LAUSD teachers strike

Yesterday, more than 30,000 school teachers, counselors, nurses, and librarians in Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) — the nation’s second-largest school district — went on strike. LAUSD educators are pushing for better conditions for their students:

• Some LAUSD high school classrooms contain 40-50+ students per teacher. California ranks 48 out of 50 in terms of class size.
• Many LAUSD schools lack librarians (and libraries), counselors, and nurses.
• Students are subjected to daily random searches which criminalize innocent young ones and disproportionately affect students of color.
• Although California is possibly the richest state in the nation, it ranks 43rd in per-student spending.

The striking educators rejected a deal that awarded salary raises but dismissed all other demands that would help students — this strike is for students. School districts and policy-makers across the country are watching this strike closely, and will be acting according to who wins.

Support LAUSD educators by wearing red and uploading a photo to social media with the hashtags #UTLAStrong, #redforred, and #strikeready. In Los Angeles? Join the picket line!

Moreover, what’s at stake is the takeover of educational policy by pro-charter school billionaires like U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Charter schools use taxpayer money, but do not answer to public accountability regarding educational standards or discriminatory practices. The New Orleans school district is now entirely privately run, their public system aggressively eliminated by mega-rich and corporate charter school advocates in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

And those billionaires? They’re strategically going after public education systems across the country…including draining $600 million from LAUSD, whose superintendent lives deeply in their pockets. The outcome of this battle may well shape public education policy across the country.

Fight the corporate/billionaire takeover of public education by supporting the LAUSD strike. Amplify the message by wearing red and uploading a photo to social media using the hashtags #strikeready, #redfored, and #UTLAstrong. Near Los Angeles? Join the picket line.