Welcome to Cashing in on Kids, a newsletter for people fighting to stop the privatization of America’s public schools—produced by In the Public Interest.
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Florida charter school leader allegedly spent school funds on new car while students went hungry. The former president of a Florida charter school has been federally indicted for allegedly stealing federal funds and committing wire fraud. Jimika Williams is accused of embezzling nearly $389,000 in funds meant for the school’s operating expenses and using them to buy a new car, pay her rent, and pay for other expenses. Parents complained of skipped lunches and other issues. South Florida Sun Sentinel
How a soccer club won a $1.2 million grant from DeVos’s Education Department to open a charter school. Valerie Strauss and Carol Burris report on the Federal Charter School Program, which gave more than $1 million to a Pennsylvania soccer club that had no experience running a school, among many other scandalous investments. The Washington Post
“Worse than Betsy DeVos.” Journalist Jeff Bryant: “Despite the promising prospect of a transition from DeVos to a Biden administration, progressive public school advocates can’t afford to overlook a threat to democratically governed schools that preceded DeVos and will continue when she is long gone.” AlterNet
“What Biden must do for public schools.” Director of the 21st Century Community Learning Center and former charter school teacher Rann Miller on one key priority for the incoming Biden administration: “Going beyond adjusting policies to balance out institutional racism found in schools and instead aim towards removing institutional racism in schools altogether.” The Progressive
A holiday gift idea. “What We Believe: A Black Lives Matter Principles Activity Book,” an activity book that introduces children to the guiding principles of the Black Lives Matter movement, is now available for a steal at $10.95. Lee & Low Books
Photo by Krissy Venosdale.