MOMocrats

K-12  News Network's Cynthia Liu speaks with Kathleen Oropeza and Christine Bramuchi of FundEducationNow.org. This non-profit made up of authentic parents in FL has worked in coalition with the  Florida PTA, the NAACP, Parents Across America, and LULAC to defeat the "parent trigeer" bill in Florida's state legislature TWICE. We'll learn how they managed this incredible feat of organization and use of the democratic process to flex their muscles as real grassroots parents against well-funded astroturf opponents who want to privatize public schools.

The IRS is still on the hot seat today, as Lois Lerner, who headed the division responsible for tax-exempt filings pleads the fifth before Congress. And the Tea Party smells blood. But we wonder where they got the idea that their organizations were actually entitled to tax exempt status. That's not what it says in the tax code. Karoli, Cynematic join Donna Schwartz Mills in this week's political discussion from the progressive POV, hosted by the MOMocrats. Produced by Engender Media Group.

The IRS is still on the hot seat today, as Lois Lerner, who headed the division responsible for tax-exempt filings pleads the fifth before Congress. And the Tea Party smells blood. But we wonder where they got the idea that their organizations were actually entitled to tax exempt status. That's not what it says in the tax code. Karoli, Cynematic join Donna Schwartz Mills in this week's political discussion from the progressive POV, hosted by the MOMocrats. Produced by Engender Media Group.

Los Angeles is electing a new Mayor on Tuesday, and the winner will be the Democrat. That's because the runoff election is between TWO progressive, pro-choice Democrats: Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel. What makes this race interesting is that, if elected, candidate Greuel would become the first woman to lead the nation's second largest city. When faced with the choice of  two candidates with such similar positions and records, what criteria do voters use to make their selection? Is gender the only valid one? Sarah Auerswald and Yvonne Condes of MomsLA and CoolMom Daphne Brogdon join Cynematic and Donna Schwartz Mills in this political discussion co-production between MOMocrats and K12 News Network, produced by Engender Media Group.

Los Angeles is electing a new Mayor on Tuesday, and the winner will be the Democrat. That's because the runoff election is between TWO progressive, pro-choice Democrats: Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel. What makes this race interesting is that, if elected, candidate Greuel would become the first woman to lead the nation's second largest city. When faced with the choice of  two candidates with such similar positions and records, what criteria do voters use to make their selection? Is gender the only valid one? Sarah Auerswald and Yvonne Condes of MomsLA and CoolMom Daphne Brogdon join Cynematic and Donna Schwartz Mills in this political discussion co-production between MOMocrats and K12 News Network, produced by Engender Media Group.

Dire news for Democrats this week: That IRS admission of targeting tea party groups, the Justice Department investigation of the AP, and Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi. Is there fire where there's smoke -- or is this just another page out of the playbook the GOP used to take the Clintons down? Karoli joins Cynematic and Donna Schwartz Mills in this week's political discussion from the progressive POV, hosted by the MOMocrats. Produced by Engender Media Group.

Dire news for Democrats this week: That IRS admission of targeting tea party groups, the Justice Department investigation of the AP, and Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi. Is there fire where there's smoke -- or is this just another page out of the playbook the GOP used to take the Clintons down? Karoli joins Cynematic and Donna Schwartz Mills in this week's political discussion from the progressive POV, hosted by the MOMocrats. Produced by Engender Media Group.

Today's show features a round-table discussion with Donna Schwartz Mills of MOMocrats, and Yvonne Condes and Sarah Auerswald of MomsLA (a 100+ blogger network based in Los Angeles), led by Cynthia Liu of K12 News Network.

It's STAR testing week still for many of us in California. What does this mean for the Common Core Standards we've heard about, and the changes in tests we can expect to see in the next few years?

Confused about the implementation of these new standards and tests? You're not the only one -- lawmakers in the California state legislature are also wrestling with unanswered questions surrounding implementation: who'll pay for professional development of teachers? How will every classroom be able to administer computer-based tests? Will low initial scores in NY and KY force more CA schools into Program Improvement?

* Key takeaways: CA spends $50 million to administer STAR tests & $11 million on CAHSEE, the required high school test.

* Costs of implementing CCS professional development and new testing could be around $1 billion, yet no money's been allocated for this. Asm. Joan Buchanan: has said $ for PD is about 50c per child in CA. Hardly adequate!

So, whose district is ready for CCS, either on the learning side, or on the testing side?

http://k12newsnetwork.com

http://momocrats.com

http://momsLA.com

Today's show features a round-table discussion with Donna Schwartz Mills of MOMocrats, and Yvonne Condes and Sarah Auerswald of MomsLA (a 100+ blogger network based in Los Angeles), led by Cynthia Liu of K12 News Network.

It's STAR testing week still for many of us in California. What does this mean for the Common Core Standards we've heard about, and the changes in tests we can expect to see in the next few years?

Confused about the implementation of these new standards and tests? You're not the only one -- lawmakers in the California state legislature are also wrestling with unanswered questions surrounding implementation: who'll pay for professional development of teachers? How will every classroom be able to administer computer-based tests? Will low initial scores in NY and KY force more CA schools into Program Improvement?

* Key takeaways: CA spends $50 million to administer STAR tests & $11 million on CAHSEE, the required high school test.

* Costs of implementing CCS professional development and new testing could be around $1 billion, yet no money's been allocated for this. Asm. Joan Buchanan: has said $ for PD is about 50c per child in CA. Hardly adequate!

So, whose district is ready for CCS, either on the learning side, or on the testing side?

http://k12newsnetwork.com

http://momocrats.com

http://momsLA.com

From Mark Sanford's win in South Carolina to the President's incomprehensible stance on Plan B -- Cynematic and Donna Schwartz Mills weigh in on the week's political news in this topical discussion from the progressive POV, hosted by the MOMocrats. Produced by Engender Media Group.