On Monday's show, Oprah joined the nationwide movement to increase the number of spaces available to students seeking to attend charter schools.  Oprah said "I value nothing more than education.  It is the reason why I stand here today.  Education is the open door to freedom. I am giving to each of these charter school networks the sum of $1 million.  A million dollars to you, to you, to you, to you, to you, and to you.  YAAAY!"  To watch the video of this, go here:  https://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Grand-Finale-for-Oprahs-Angel-Network-Video

On her show, Oprah was joined by Bill Gates and Michelle Rhee.  They discussed the new documentary "Waiting for Superman," soon showing everywhere across the nation.  This documentary shows that union interests block the growth of charter schools in every state.  It shows the heartbreak of students and families who lose in the lottery to win one of the few spaces available at these charter schools. The education of these children, who don't have the choice of living in a leafy suburb with good schools, who cannot enroll in a private school, hangs on the roll of the dice.  The profound unfairness of this situation is heart-wrenching and apparent to all.

"Waiting for Superman" also shows how charter schools run by principals like Geoffrey Canada of the Harlem Children's Zone are successfully opening the door to freedom for those lucky few children who win the lottery. How does he do it?  He places the education of children before the self-interest of adults. He is allowed to be in charge of his budget, his staff, his educational program.  (For more details and a 60 minutes video, see my blog post on Geoffrey Canada, here.)

Six days ago, on September 16th, Goldman Sachs gave $20 million to Harlem Children's Zone, Geoffrey Canada's schools.  This is the largest ever donation by the Goldman Sachs Gives fund.  If it is one thing the hard-headed folks at Goldman Sachs understand, and it is results.  Charter schools like Canada's are producing results.  No one could say that Goldman Sachs is given to being swept up by fashionable education trends. 

Olympia lawmakers have made charters illegal, so Washington's students will not receive any of the support pouring into these schools from Oprah, Bill Gates, and Goldman Sachs.  This money will instead be spent in the 40 states which permit charter schools.  Students in Washington will continue to stand on the sidelines, watching as adult union interests repeatedly veto their chances at a charter school education. 

Just the last session, for example, bipartisan legislation to introduce charter schools (sponsored by Senator Jim Kastama, D-Puyallup) was killed in committee by Senate Education Chair Rosemary McAuliffe.  The bill died when the legislature adjourned March 11, 2010.  What a disgrace and a loss for Washington's students.