Power to the Parents

A new state law allowing parents to reform schools themselves that went into effect last week is already being used in L.A.'s Sunlund-Tujunga neighborhood, finds the Daily News. Mount Gleason Middle School could see all its teachers and administration fired and have it turned over to a charter operator, if a majority of parents sign a petition. "Parents are the ones who pay taxes, they are the consumers and they cannot wait for manana," said state Sen. Gloria Romero of L.A., who authored the reform bill. Although Gleason has been ID's has an extremely under-performing school, officials are concerned organized parents at good schools could use the law as well in a "witch hunt" manner.