Sorry, but the problem is not private aid, it's the centralized, top-down approach
February 01, 2011
An article by Joanne Barkan in Dissent strongly criticizes private philanthropies supporting public education, particularly the Gates, Broad, and Walton foundations. (She's especially critical of the Gates Foundation.)
All children should have access to a good public school. And public schools should be run by officials who answer to the voters. Gates, Broad, and Walton answer to no one. Tax payers still fund more than 99 percent of the cost of K–12 education. Private foundations should not be setting public policy for them. Private money should not be producing what amounts to false advertising for a faulty product. The imperious overreaching of the Big Three undermines democracy just as surely as it damages public education.
I'm sorry, but the problem isn't with the money or the private "control" but with the lack of meaningful choice in many areas. Kids differ, families differ, and more choice and competition would be the most effective way to serve the huge diversity of both. Smaller school districts would be a good start.