Leonie Haimson of Class Size Matters explains why parents need a voice in educational policy. She introduces Karran Royal Harper of the Pyramid Resource Center in New Orleans, where soon, 85 percent of the students will be in charters.

Karran explains how the rapid charter expansion has meant more instability for children, who no longer have a right to attend a neighborhood school, and are often pushed out by charters, especially those with special needs.

“Schools choose [students] and parents and children lose. We really don’t have choice….Charter schools’ solution to school improvement is to change our students….The principal became a CEO and her salary went from about $80,000 to $250 thousand.”