'Won't Back Down' highlights parent trigger law for schools

Greg Toppo:

Set in a gritty Pittsburgh neighborhood, the upcoming Maggie Gyllenhaal/Viola Davis film tells the story of two parents, one of them a teacher, who use a little-known state law to take over their kids' struggling public school. Turns out that such laws actually exist in four states -- California, Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana -- with lawmakers in about a dozen more, including Pennsylvania, expected to consider them over the next year.

First dreamed up by Democratic activist and former Clinton White House staffer Ben Austin, so-called parent trigger laws allow dissatisfied parents to demand changes at their kids' schools -- including a total takeover -- if a majority sign on.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at August 6, 2012 1:10 AM
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