The Education Committee fights to promote and defend public education against privatization by the charter school industry that has targeted ELA and Boyle Heights. Privatization of public education is part of the Republican led neo-liberal capitalist threat to attack public services. This threat aims to convert public services to private profit-driven corporations. The Committee successfully defeated a large construction project in Boyle Heights by  KIPP Promesa charter school at 4th and Soto, the old Lincoln Hospital site. In 2024 we defeated the Extera charter school construction project in a quiet ELA residential community. This was done with a grassroots campaign (see below). Over 12 years ago the Committee also worked with the GHS community to stop a takeover by Green Dot charter corporation. We have been strong allies of UTLA for many years. We supported UTLA during a strike and in their campaigns to elect pro union pro public education candidates. We are members of the UTLA Human Rights Committee that supports many of our protests. UTLA also supports our annual Chicano Moratorium rally.

Extera Charter Schools tried to jam a school into an East Los Angeles location much too small and with zero street capacity for any additional vehicles.  While well-funded charters schools are used to getting their way, on 10.29.24 the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors -- following Hilda Solis’s lead -- unanimously rejected Extera’s bid for a school construction conditional use permit.  What did it take to make this victory happen?  Talking with residents through door-to-door outreach and neighbors speaking out on their deeply-felt concerns.  Sticking to the various reasons why no school would work at the location.  When we plan effectively and then we organize, we win!    

Our Fight Defending Public Education