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Parents Revolution Executive Director Ben Austin on how the Trigger law empowers parents to make changes at under-performing schools.
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When he ten California with -- first aid to implement a parent trigger a lot which gives parents the ultimate power of the children's public school education.
It gives the power to force major changes.
At underperforming schools such as firing a principal at closing the school and re opening it as an independent charter school all -- need.
Is 51%.
Of parents to sign a petition and make it happen well last week.
A group of parents and -- -- California became the first to clear a legal hurdle to put the law into effect.
Of course the school board is planning to fight that some with me now has been Austin executive director -- parent revolution.
A group that helped these parents organized thank you so much for joining us tonight we appreciate your time.
Thank you for having me I want to read you.
These staggering statistics about this school in particular and they say that two thirds of the children.
-- the state reading exam more than half were not proficient in math.
80%.
Failed the science exam the school has not met standards for six years in school and scores -- them.
In the bottom 10% of the entire state my question is how in the world does this happen.
It happens because these schools are designed to serve the interest of powerful adults rather than the interest of children.
And and and the parents at desert trails elementary parents.
In the middle of the Mojave Desert.
Made history by being the first parents in American history to say we've had a full I'm not.
Going to take -- serves the interests of the that people and charging what does that mean what exactly happened.
Well is specifically there are a number -- teachers at this school.
That on the school district is unable to fire.
Unable to.
Identifying and in train.
And so they just park them at this school they've been there for years and that's why the school's been failing for years and what these parents they have they have wanted was a simple modification to that.
Union contract that made it more likely that they would have a good teacher in every classroom the school district in and and the special interest.
Push back I and I lied to parents intimidated parents even forged documents to try to stop them but these.
Parents did not give up and they won an historic court victory.
Last week that gives them the power for the first.
Time in American history.
To take over and transform their school and take back power over the educational destiny of their own children.
-- other gonna do act is now they have an awesome task of righting the ship and turning this around I mean there's a lot of work to be done.
They sure do in this is no easy task they are this week going to announce how this process is going to move forward.
But what they're basically gonna do is the parents and the parents alone.
For the first time ever are going to run -- RFP process -- rip.
Request for proposal process where they say that.
Charter schools even other that the school district other school districts.
Give us your proposals give us your best ideas to turn around and transform this school rooted in what's good for.
Children not what yeah for the interest of powerful adults and and we will pick the best proposal that best for our children.
I'm sure you know the school board is fighting this of course I'm sure they would say that this is a school out in the middle of the desert it doesn't have the support of high property taxes that you would have in other neighborhoods it's not the fault of the teachers they don't have the money how would you respond.
We'll look -- all of it together and and and everybody including the parents have responsibility for this but.
Yeah everybody talks about.
Parent involvement parent involvement parent involvement we'll -- parents got involved instead being applauded.
They got threaten they got lied to and and their right Scott violated an end -- finally sided with them over powerful special interest.
And in these parents are going to take responsibility.
Not only for their individual kids but for all children -- desert trails elementary understanding not.
For all parents and all children trapped in failing schools across America because.
We that we think impaired -- -- as a new law we think of as the new paradigm in new way of thinking about education reform that it's not about.
Democrats vs Republicans are teachers union diversity education reformers expect giving parents power of the education their own kids.
-- possible we certainly applaud their efforts the buck does stop with parents as far as I'm concerns that we really applaud them for getting involved to turn this situation around -- know it's going to be a long road.
And -- we wish you all the best of luck.
Thank you so much.
