Public Education is Being Transformed from Public Service to Private Market Opportunity

Source: George Kates. "It’s Tech Versus Teachers as Strike Looms Over LA Schools." April 10, 2026. jacobin.com

The Gist

The author argues that LA's teacher strike is really about whether schools should serve kids and provide good jobs, or become a business opportunity for tech companies. He claims districts are spending huge amounts on unproven technology while saying they can't afford to pay teachers properly.

Conclusion

The conflict between LA teachers and the school district represents a fundamental struggle over whether public education should serve students and provide good jobs, or function as a market for private contractors and tech companies

Premises

1. LAUSD has committed $1.6 billion to technology vendors since 2022, which exceeds their claimed $1.4 billion deficit
2. The share of school budgets going to employee salaries has declined dramatically (from 70% to 56% in NYC, 63% to 51% in LA) while contracting has increased
3. School districts nationwide are spending billions on unproven EdTech products while claiming they cannot afford teacher salary increases
4. FBI investigations into LAUSD's superintendent reveal corruption in EdTech contracting, including a fraudulent $6 million AI contract
5. Teachers' unions in California are successfully negotiating contract language that limits AI use and prevents it from replacing workers
6. The growth of charter schools, online schools, and voucher programs represents the expansion of public education as a private market

Assumptions

• Public education should primarily serve students and families rather than generate profits for private companies
• Direct employment of teachers and staff is preferable to contracting out educational services
• Budget deficits are being used strategically to justify replacing workers with technology
• The tech industry views public education as an untapped growth market to be exploited
• Teachers' unions represent the interests of students and families against corporate interests

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