Watch CBS News

UTLA: Mayor, School Board Want To Privatize Public Education

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A local teachers' union says the LAUSD buckled under pressure from the mayor in giving control of more charter schools to outside operators.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and school board president Monica Garcia were clearly ecstatic over the latest moves under the Public School Choice program, in which new charter operators were chosen to run some local campuses.

KNX 1070's Jon Baird reports Villaraigosa calls the decision one of the "most innovative school reform processes anywhere in the country", but United Teachers L.A. strongly disagrees.

Podcast

Union leaders said the school board ignored the will of parents when it gave away more schools to outside charter operators, and that ultimately these decisions were made at the bidding of the mayor and his rich allies who want to privatize public education.

The mayor quickly dismissed the backlash.

"When you change the status quo, you upset the apple cart," Villaraigosa said.

(©2010 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.