March and Rally in NYC Against Cuomo Ed Reform - 4 pm Thursday

[eridani]

1. Common Dreams article

NYC Parents vs. Wall Street-Backed Charter Schools

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2014/04/08-2

Governor Cuomo and charter lobby 'strong-arming' bid to evict special needs students in favor of charter expansion

Parents and public school advocates staged a dramatic protest outside the New York City Department of Education on Tuesday against a bid, backed by Governor Andrew Cuomo and financed by Wall Street lobbyists, to evict special needs students in order to make room for charter school expansion.

The demonstration is the most recent development in the battle against corporate education reform in the city, where "strong-arm" tactics by Cuomo and the charter school lobby have overriden an attempt by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to curb the growth of privately-funded charters.

Calling out Eva Moskowitz, CEO of the Success Academy charter chain, the demonstrators blasted her for "strong arming" the expansion of her charter schools, adding that she is "stealing classrooms from 102 special needs students."