Our pick of recent news about the privatization of public education in the District and the families, students, and teachers fighting back.

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Charter leader stepping down. Scott Pearson, an alumni of the Obama administration’s pro-charter Education Department, has announced that he plans to step down from his position as executive director of the D.C. Public Charter School Board (PCSB) in May. The Washington Post

“Neither Rain Nor Snow Nor Kidnapping.” Education researcher Valerie Jablow picks apart the “incredible events” at a recent meeting of the D.C. Public Charter School Board (PCSB). “The charter board did not even let a kidnapping from the Rocketship school where they were meeting slow down their approval for a new Rocketship campus in Ward 5.” EducationDC

Misleading op-ed. Former Lousiana senator Mary Landrieu and Ramona Edelin, executive director of the D.C. Association of Chartered Public Schools, say “it’s morally and legally wrong to deny charter schools access to unused school buildings” because there are many students charter school on wait lists. They neglect to mention that each student can be on as many as 12 waitlists simultaneously. The Washington Post

Near kidnapping at Rocketship. Rocketship Rise is terminating its partnership with Springboard, which provides after-school care for students. The change comes after a 30-year-old registered sex offender tried to kidnap a 9-year-old and a 6-year-old at the charter school, by pretending to be a relative. WJLA

Charter school chain vs. neighborhood. A charter school chain is trying to open a middle school in Ward 8 and has enraged nearby residents in the process. “It’s the latest example of how the District’s lack of comprehensive planning for where to build new schools can create disarray.” Washington City Paper