And is it any wonder?
 

This week alone, we saw union-funded politicians in Sacramento try to gut charter schools with Assembly Bill 1316, and fail to even consider a bill, AB 1484, that would have simply given teachers information about their union membership rights. Schools remain among the least-open in the nation (second only to Hawaii) with little hope that will improve by fall. The California Court of Appeals dealt a massive blow to independent truckers, ruling they must be classified as employees under AB 5. Even Hollywood had a rough go, with fewer viewers tuning into the maskless Academy Awards show than ever before. 

Perhaps now that their anti-people, anti-business policies are beginning to affect California’s voice in federal matters, state lawmakers will begin to rethink their ways. Disclaimer: CPC is not responsible for harm incurred by those holding their breath.

But, it wasn’t all bad news. And considering California’s destructive policies, power-hungry supermajority, and behemoth unions makes victories like the ones achieved this week even sweeter. Last week, you may have read about the Desert Sand School District’s cowardly decision to cave to union demands and keep kids mostly locked out of class indefinitely. As many of us were heading out of work for the weekend, members of CPC’s Parent Union organized a group of over 100 parents, students, and even teachers to rally outside the district’s offices and urge them to reconsider. 

And on Monday, they took that message directly to the board’s chambers and spoke, one after another, for over 30 minutes on why it was time for the district to put student needs ahead of union demands and reopen schools. In what can only be described as a David and Goliath moment, the board voted unanimously to reopen schools! Parents were victorious over the union (which is still pouting about the return to work). On Monday, all students in the district will return to class, four days a week, thanks entirely to the dogged efforts of parents. 

Parents in Los Angeles also secured a win for students, forcing the reopening of school playgrounds. A group of parents farther north, in Madera County, achieved a full reopening of schools after threatening the district with a lawsuit. 

California’s government unions may feel like an unbeatable opponent, but this week demonstrated that parents and ordinary Californians can make a difference. Thanks to efforts like these, we have hope that the outcome of the next Census will be different. 

More from CPC

• UPDATE: Southern California parents secure major victory over teachers union

• AB 1316 aims to destroy charter schools

• Defining an omni-shambles: California’s unemployment agency

• Awakening to woke

• Listen: Unleash the whackin’

• Fixing K-12 education in California

• The key to affordable housing? More suburbs

CPC and allies in the news

• Legislators move to gut charter schools further to appease teachers unions

• Phil Cowan and Lance Christensen discuss Sacramento’s attempts to reduce school choice in California (1:28 mark)  

• CPC’s Lance Christensen joins The Lars Larson Show: Is California trying to close down charter schools? 

• CPC’s Lance Christensen and Ubaldi Reports talk education

• Population shifts cause California to lose Congress member for first time in state history

• Will school choice improve California’s education system? 

Classroom headlines 

• LAUSD students should be able to return to all-day, in-person instruction in fall, superintendent says

• New poll shows majority approve of Newsom’s efforts but worry about California students

• Yosemite Unified avoids lawsuit, strikes deal to reopen schools full-time for students

• Public school enrollment hits 20-year low

• Majority of schools’ COVID-19 funds went to employee pay 

• Will California lawmakers allow distance learning to continue next year? 

• San Francisco seniors will walk a real stage for Class of 2021 high school graduation 

Business news

• Progressive bills go down in flames

• He spent $200,000 trying to open an S.F. ice cream shop, but was no match for city bureaucracy

• Federal court deals blow to California owner-ops with AB 5

• California restaurant owner pleads for Gov. Newsom recall: What he’s done is ‘traumatizing’

• A small San Francisco circus tried to do right by its workers. Now it may be going out of business

Other things we’re reading

• Census: Texas gains Congress seats, Calif. Loses first time 

• Gavin Newsom recall officially qualifies: Here’s what happens next

• Biden’s proposed capital gains tax hike might hit wealthy Americans with 57% rate, study shows

Connect with CPC

Want to keep up with CPC and our partners during the week? Follow us on Twitter, join our Facebook community, and sign up to be part of the growing Parent Union.  

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Chantal Lovell is the communications director for California Policy Center.