@ISIDEWITHQuestionseducationStarted 7yrs agoActive 7 days ago

Do you support charter schools?

Charter schools are tax payer funded K-12 schools that are managed by private companies. In the U.S. there are approximately 2.9 million students enrolled in 6,700 charter schools. Charter schools are approved and governed by city, county or state governments. Beneficiaries of private schools include real-estate investors who typically own the buildings and land where the schools are housed. Opponents of charter schools argue that they take money away from the public education system and enrich private companies and real estate investors who own the land where the schools are built. Proponents argue that students in charter schools consistently have higher test scores than public school students and note that there are millions of students across the U.S. who are currently on waitlists for private schools.

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Answer Overview

Response rates from 1.7k Ada voters.

70%
Yes
30%
No
54%
Yes
21%
No
11%
Yes, but not at the expense of funding public schools
8%
No, we should focus on improving our public schools and increasing teacher wages instead
4%
Yes, but only if they are non-profit
1%
No, and education should not be privatized
1%
Yes, and our entire education system should be privatized

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Other Popular Answers

Unique answers from Ada voters whose views went beyond the provided options.

 @8G4T258 from Oklahoma  answered…4yrs4Y

No, the reason the students have higher test scores is because those schools have more funding..take their funding and give it to public schools

 @6TJWFCFfrom Minnesota  answered…4yrs4Y

They shouldn't need to exist, the same quality of education should be available in public schools instead of needing to pay to get it in a private school.

 @95CJ5F5from North Carolina  answered…2yrs2Y

No, but education should be nationalized.

 @9S2PDWW from Virginia  answered…4mos4MO

I agree that charter schools must continue to be an available option for those who wish to consider it, charter schools have had better performance rates, and also have an ability to teach a unique curriculum that could appeal to people based upon culture, religion, or preference for their children. But it is important that these charter schools do not become a detriment to the public school system or that they become more available to All those who wish to Consider it. And it should be a priority that we Improve the wages of teachers in public schools and provide courses that will benefit graduates in finding jobs after they complete K to 12.

 @9HNC8JW  from North Carolina  answered…12mos12MO

Parents should be able to choose where their children go to school. More options = better education.

 @9GZDTYY from Maryland  answered…1yr1Y

Government funding should be focused on public schools and increasing teacher wages, but private institutions should still be able to run private schools for families that want private education for their child.

 @9L4Z23B  from Pennsylvania  answered…8mos8MO

Yes, and state should make it easier for more charter, magnet, college prep, and vocational/technical schools to be created in school districts and receive accreditation

 @95P6HN4 from North Carolina  answered…2yrs2Y

No, and all education should be nationalized.

Latest News

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…7mos7MO

Texas School Funding Controversy: Calls for Investigation into Houston ISD Superintendent's Charter School Connections

The debate over school funding in Texas has taken a dramatic turn with allegations against Houston Independent School District (HISD) Superintendent Mike Miles. Accusations have surfaced that Miles may be improperly funneling Texas taxpayer dollars to charter schools he founded in Colorado, sparking a wave of concern and calls for a thorough investigation. This controversy centers around the Third Future Schools, a network of charter schools established by Miles, which expanded from Colorado to Texas under his leadership.Reports suggest that millions in taxpayer money from a Third Future School in Odessa, Texas, were sent to its sister school in Colorado to provide financial assistance. This has raised questions about the legality and ethics of such transactions, especially considering the strict regulations governing the use of public funds for education. Critics argue that if Texas tax dollars are indeed being used to support schools outside the state, this could represent a significant loophole in the law that needs immediate attention.The situation has prompted a strong reaction from various stakeholders, including parents, educators, and lawmakers, who are demanding transparency and accountability. The Texas Education Agency is under pressure to launch an in-depth investigation to ascertain the facts and determine whether any laws have been violated. The outcome of such an inquiry could have far-reaching implications for school funding policies and the governance of charter schools in the state.Superintendent Mike Miles, for his part, has defended the financial practices of Third Future Schools, emphasizing the network's commitment to providing high-quality education to students in both Texas and Colorado. However, with the controversy showing no signs of abating, the focus remains on ensuring that Texas taxpayer dollars are used appropriately and effectively within the state's education system.As the debate continues, the broader implications for the charter school movement and public education funding in Texas are becoming increasingly apparent. This controversy highlights the complex challenges of managing public funds in a way that supports educational innovation while maintaining strict accountability and transparency standards.

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…3wks3W

Donald Trump nominates Pam Bondi as the next Attorney General

Former President and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has announced his intention to nominate former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as the next Attorney General of the United States, should he reclaim the presidency in the upcoming election.Bondi, a prominent figure in Republican politics, served as Florida's Attorney General from 2011 to 2019. She gained national attention for her legal battles on issues such as health care reform, consumer protection, and opioid abuse litigation. Known for her steadfast support of Trump during his presidency, Bondi also served as a key adviser during his first impeachment trial, where she defended his administration against accusations of abuse of power.In a statement released by his campaign, Trump praised Bondi’s “unwavering commitment to justice” and her “track record of standing up for everyday Americans against the abuses of Washington’s elites.”“Pam Bondi has been a fearless advocate for the people, and she embodies the principles of fairness, accountability, and the rule of law that are sorely needed to restore trust in our justice system,” Trump said. “She is the right person to lead the Department of Justice into a new era of integrity and excellence.”While Bondi’s nomination has been met with applause from conservative circles, it has also reignited criticism from Democrats and ethics watchdogs. Her acceptance of a $25,000 donation from the Trump Foundation in 2013, which coincided with her decision not to pursue an investigation into Trump University, has drawn scrutiny in the past and resurfaced following the announcement.Democratic leaders have already voiced opposition, questioning Bondi’s ability to lead the Department of Justice independently. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) called the nomination “a political power play” and urged a focus on “restoring integrity, not entrenching partisanship.”

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…2 days2D

CEO Shooting Suspect Had Manifesto That Criticized Healthcare Companies

A man is being held for questioning in connection with last week’s killing of a health insurance executive in Midtown Manhattan, the police said.The man being questioned was identified as Luigi Mangione, 26, the police commissioner, Jessica Tisch, said at a news briefing. He was identified in a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pa., after an employee recognized him and called the authorities at about 9:15 a.m. on Monday.Mr. Mangione was carrying identification with his name on it, along with fake I.D., according to law enforcement officials.Mr. Mangione showed the police the same fake New Jersey identification that the man believed to be the gunman presented when he checked into a hostel on the Upper West Side of Manhattan on Nov. 24, a senior law enforcement official saidWhen Mr. Mangione was approached in Altoona, he had a gun, a silencer and other false identification cards similar to those they believe the killer used in New York, according to one of the law enforcement officials and a person briefed on the investigation. The gun was described as possibly being a so-called ghost gun, assembled from parts purchased online.Mr. Mangione was also carrying a handwritten manifesto that criticized health care companies for putting profits above care, according to two law enforcement officials.Mr. Mangione is in custody on local charges, the official said, possibly related to presenting the fake identification to the police. He has not been arrested or charged in connection with the killing.New York police investigators are traveling to Altoona, in western Pennsylvania, about 280 miles from the city, according to one of the law enforcement officials.

▲  2011 replies

Active 3hrs ago

 @ISIDEWITH submitted…2wks2W

Kamala Harris is considering running for president again in 2028

Kamala Harris has been lying low since her defeat in the presidential race, unwinding with family and senior aides in Hawaii before heading back to the nation’s capital.But privately, the vice president has been instructing advisers and allies to keep her options open — whether for a possible 2028 presidential run, or even to run for governor in her home state of California in two years. As Harris has repeated in phone calls, “I am staying in the fight.”She is expected to explore those and other possible paths forward with family members over the winter holiday season, according to five people in the Harris inner circle, who were granted anonymity to discuss internal dynamics. Her deliberations follow an extraordinary four months in which Harris went from President Joe Biden’s running mate to the top of the ticket, reenergizing Democrats before ultimately crashing on election night.“She doesn’t have to decide if she wants to run for something again in the next six months,” said one former Harris campaign aide. “The natural thing to do would be to set up some type of entity that would give her the opportunity to travel and give speeches and preserve her political relationships.”“She doesn’t have to decide if she wants to run for something again in the next six months,” said one former Harris campaign aide. “The natural thing to do would be to set up some type of entity that would give her the opportunity to travel and give speeches and preserve her political relationships.”Harris concedes: 'We must accept the results of this election'SharePlay VideoMost immediately, Harris and her advisers are working to define how and when she will speak out against Donald Trump and reassert her own role in the Democratic Party. Closing out her term as vice president, she’s set to preside over certifying the November election she lost to Trump, and then appear at the once-and-future president’s inauguration on Jan. 20.“There will be a desire to hear her voice, and there won’t be a vacuum for long,” a person close to Harris said.At the same time, Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, will have a long checklist to plow through before they leave the Naval Observatory for good.They have to decide whether they’ll take up permanent residence at their home in Los Angeles, or establish a base elsewhere. No matter where Harris and her family live, some around her have expressed concerns about safety, as her Secret Service protection expires six months after stepping away.

▲  1022 replies

 @ISIDEWITH submitted…3wks3W

Gallup Poll Bombshell: Over Half of Ukrainians Ready for Peace

More than half of Ukrainians want talks to end the war with Russia, according to the latest Gallup polls released on Tuesday, the war’s 1,000th day. The surveys, conducted in August and October, found that 52 percent of Ukrainians want their nation to negotiate an end to the war in Eastern Europe that has been raging for over two-and-half years. Almost four in 10 Ukrainians, 38 percent, want their military to keep fighting until it wins the war. Some 9 percent did not know or refused to share their opinion on the matter. The outlook of the Ukrainians is different from the period when the invasion began in February 2022. Just months after Russia’s invasion kicked off, around 73 percent of Ukrainians wanted to keep fighting. The support for continued fighting dropped among Ukrainians in 2023 when 63 percent wanted the conflict to continue while 27 percent preferred a negotiated peace, according to the survey. The poll comes as Ukraine fired U.S.-made long-range missiles inside Russia for the first time since the restriction was reportedly lifted by the Biden administration. On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin lowered the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons. The support for continuing the war has dropped among Ukrainians across the country, dipping to below 50 percent throughout the nation this year, Gallup noted. The biggest declines were in regions that are far from the front lines. Over half of Ukrainians, 52 percent, agree that Kyiv should be open to making some territorial concessions as part of a cease-fire, according to the poll. Around 38 percent disagreed while another 10 percent did not know.

▲  197 replies

Active 2hrs ago

 @ISIDEWITH submitted…18hrs18H

Israel Sinks Syria's Navy

Israel said Tuesday that it had destroyed Syria’s navy in overnight airstrikes, as it continued to pound targets in Syria despite warnings that its operations there could ignite new conflict and jeopardize the transition of power to an interim government.Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, said that the Israeli military had “destroyed Syria’s navy overnight, and with great success.” His remarks appeared to confirm Israel’s responsibility for the destruction documented in the Syrian port city of Latakia, where photos showed the smoldering remains of ships sunk at their dock.Mr. Katz said that Israel’s military “has been operating in Syria in recent days to hit and destroy strategic capabilities that pose a threat to Israel,” although he did not indicate what new or immediate risk Syria’s navy presented to Israel, which has the most powerful military in the Middle East.Israeli warplanes have conducted hundreds of strikes in Syria since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday, according to war monitors. Israel has characterized its operations as defensive, saying its military was striking suspected chemical weapons stockpiles in Syria to prevent them from falling “into the hands of extremists.”“From here, I warn the rebel leaders in Syria: Those who follow Assad’s path will end like Assad,” Mr. Katz said.As the Assad government fell to the rebels over the weekend, Israeli ground forces advanced beyond the demilitarized zone on the Israel-Syria border, marking their first overt entry into Syrian territory in more than 50 years. An Israeli military spokesman on Tuesday denied reports that the military was advancing on Damascus. The spokesman, Avichay Adraee, said the military was inside a buffer zone between Israel and Syria and at other points “in order to protect the Israeli border.”Earlier Tuesday, Geir Pedersen, the United Nations special envoy for Syria, called on Israel to halt its “very troubling” military operations there, and said de-escalation was needed. “We are continuing to see Israeli movements and bombardments into Syrian territory. This needs to stop,” Mr. Pedersen told reporters in Geneva.

▲  1510 replies