david i. backer
@schooldaves.bsky.social
associate prof of education policy. former high school teacher. education, ideology, policy, finance, climate, socialism. he/him. https://linktr.ee/davidibacker
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As Public As Possible: Radical Finance for America's Public Schools | David Backer
Education expert David I. Backer argues for radically expanding the "public" in public schools. Discover a concrete set of policies to provide a truly public education for all, regardless of wealth an...
www.aspublicaspossiblebook.com
my book is officially out! you can get it here! www.aspublicaspossiblebook.com
Reposted by david i. backer
Says that federal detention facilities are “nicer than some of the elementary schools” that educate the kids he’s elected to represent, and says that to help support his case that it’s okay to detain five year olds. Just fully lobotomized.
Gonzales on Liam Ramos and his family: "They're not gonna qualify for asylum. So what do you do with all the people that go through the process and do not qualify for asylum? You deport them. I understand that 5-year-old and it breaks my heart. I also think, what about that 5-year-old US citizen?"
February 8, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Says that federal detention facilities are “nicer than some of the elementary schools” that educate the kids he’s elected to represent, and says that to help support his case that it’s okay to detain five year olds. Just fully lobotomized.
Reposted by david i. backer
A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office calculates the cost of efforts to fire civil rights staff and questions the department's ability to enforce federal civil rights laws.
The Education Department's efforts to fire staff cost over $28 million, watchdog says
A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office calculates the cost of efforts to fire civil rights staff and questions the department's ability to enforce federal civil rights laws.
n.pr
February 8, 2026 at 3:39 PM
A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office calculates the cost of efforts to fire civil rights staff and questions the department's ability to enforce federal civil rights laws.
Reposted by david i. backer
This is bleak: Jes Staley, currently CEO of Barclays, reassuring Epstein that popular revolt against financial elites is unlikely because capitalism and pop culture have defanged social movements, leaving people more invested in consumption than justice.
February 6, 2026 at 10:23 PM
This is bleak: Jes Staley, currently CEO of Barclays, reassuring Epstein that popular revolt against financial elites is unlikely because capitalism and pop culture have defanged social movements, leaving people more invested in consumption than justice.
Reposted by david i. backer
After I finish your book, perhaps we can talk more!
February 6, 2026 at 1:51 PM
After I finish your book, perhaps we can talk more!
Spent yesterday morning going through the Epstein files looking for municipal finance stuff. Indeed, I found some stuff. Will send out through my newsletter Monday.
February 6, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Spent yesterday morning going through the Epstein files looking for municipal finance stuff. Indeed, I found some stuff. Will send out through my newsletter Monday.
Reposted by david i. backer
I can't answer, but I'm reading your book. I'm the Decatur County Dem. Party Chair in KS. Our schools are in disrepair. We've tried funding the improvements the traditional way, but it was voted down twice. It's time to think outside of the box. Your book was recommended to me by Mark Schaukowitch.
February 6, 2026 at 7:08 AM
I can't answer, but I'm reading your book. I'm the Decatur County Dem. Party Chair in KS. Our schools are in disrepair. We've tried funding the improvements the traditional way, but it was voted down twice. It's time to think outside of the box. Your book was recommended to me by Mark Schaukowitch.
So I gave a lecture to the business school at the Uni of Essex yesterday, and during my talk there was a rally to protest massive cuts to the budget there. I got curious so I poked around financial statements and I have a couple questions, maybe ppl here can answer:
February 5, 2026 at 2:50 PM
So I gave a lecture to the business school at the Uni of Essex yesterday, and during my talk there was a rally to protest massive cuts to the budget there. I got curious so I poked around financial statements and I have a couple questions, maybe ppl here can answer:
I know it was taken over by our toxic ruling class but still kinda amazing that 10k ppl follow me on TikTok to hear about school finance
February 4, 2026 at 4:25 PM
I know it was taken over by our toxic ruling class but still kinda amazing that 10k ppl follow me on TikTok to hear about school finance
For my UK colleagues and comrades, this’ll start in a couple hours. Come listen to me talk about my book!
February 4, 2026 at 11:47 AM
For my UK colleagues and comrades, this’ll start in a couple hours. Come listen to me talk about my book!
Reposted by david i. backer
40 Iowans showed up on Zoom on a Monday night to dig into school finance docs, bonds, & audits w/ @schooldaves.bsky.social. That's 40 people asking questions about the political economy that underfunds public schools & demands they borrow from private markets.
That's 40 people demanding better.
That's 40 people demanding better.
If you're an Iowan who wants a better understanding of school finance and how to "fight wonky" to get the public schools we deserve. Join Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement & @schooldaves.bsky.social for a virtual meetup to do just that!
Register @ iowacci.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/even...
Register @ iowacci.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/even...
February 3, 2026 at 1:59 PM
40 Iowans showed up on Zoom on a Monday night to dig into school finance docs, bonds, & audits w/ @schooldaves.bsky.social. That's 40 people asking questions about the political economy that underfunds public schools & demands they borrow from private markets.
That's 40 people demanding better.
That's 40 people demanding better.
Tomorrow at 14:00 GMT (9AM EST) I’ll be giving a lecture online for the University of Essex’s EBS Management and Marketing Seminar. DM me if you want to join!
February 3, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Tomorrow at 14:00 GMT (9AM EST) I’ll be giving a lecture online for the University of Essex’s EBS Management and Marketing Seminar. DM me if you want to join!
Reposted by david i. backer
Very excited to share an excerpt I illustrated about a measure called the super-expropriation index from David I. Backer’s new book, “As Public As Possible: Radical Finance For America’s Public Schools.” If you’re interested in rebuilding school finance policy to serve the public read his book now!
This is *extremely* cool: @soumyadhulekar.bsky.social illustrated a section of my book on super-expropriation and school finance. www.soumyadhulekar.com/the-super-ex...
The Super-Expropriation Index — SOUMYA DHULEKAR
www.soumyadhulekar.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:42 PM
Very excited to share an excerpt I illustrated about a measure called the super-expropriation index from David I. Backer’s new book, “As Public As Possible: Radical Finance For America’s Public Schools.” If you’re interested in rebuilding school finance policy to serve the public read his book now!
This is *extremely* cool: @soumyadhulekar.bsky.social illustrated a section of my book on super-expropriation and school finance. www.soumyadhulekar.com/the-super-ex...
The Super-Expropriation Index — SOUMYA DHULEKAR
www.soumyadhulekar.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:19 PM
This is *extremely* cool: @soumyadhulekar.bsky.social illustrated a section of my book on super-expropriation and school finance. www.soumyadhulekar.com/the-super-ex...
Reposted by david i. backer
If you're an Iowan who wants a better understanding of school finance and how to "fight wonky" to get the public schools we deserve. Join Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement & @schooldaves.bsky.social for a virtual meetup to do just that!
Register @ iowacci.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/even...
Register @ iowacci.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/even...
February 2, 2026 at 4:26 PM
If you're an Iowan who wants a better understanding of school finance and how to "fight wonky" to get the public schools we deserve. Join Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement & @schooldaves.bsky.social for a virtual meetup to do just that!
Register @ iowacci.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/even...
Register @ iowacci.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/even...
FIGHT WONKY
If you're an Iowan who wants a better understanding of school finance and how to "fight wonky" to get the public schools we deserve. Join Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement & @schooldaves.bsky.social for a virtual meetup to do just that!
Register @ iowacci.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/even...
Register @ iowacci.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/even...
February 2, 2026 at 4:47 PM
FIGHT WONKY
Pretty cool that NYC-DSA has a Budget Working Group that's leading the charge on the new Tax the Rich campaign, which is heading to Albany to demand several new taxes on people with a lot of money. actionnetwork.org/groups/nyc-d...
NYC-DSA Budget Working Group: NYC-DSA Budget Working Group
New York City Democratic Socialists of America's (NYC-DSA) Budget Working Group. Home of our Tax the Rich campaign
actionnetwork.org
February 2, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Pretty cool that NYC-DSA has a Budget Working Group that's leading the charge on the new Tax the Rich campaign, which is heading to Albany to demand several new taxes on people with a lot of money. actionnetwork.org/groups/nyc-d...
Reposted by david i. backer
Senate bill seeks to give West Virginia private schools ‘freedom from government oversight’ westvirginiawatch.com/2026/02/02/s...
Senate bill seeks to give West Virginia private schools ‘freedom from government oversight' • West Virginia Watch
The Senate is advancing a GOP-backed bill that strikes out many current requirements for West Virginia private schools.
westvirginiawatch.com
February 2, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Senate bill seeks to give West Virginia private schools ‘freedom from government oversight’ westvirginiawatch.com/2026/02/02/s...
Reposted by david i. backer
Attention Iowa folks interested in public schools!! You won’t want to miss this, @schooldaves.bsky.social brings so much expertise and interesting ideas to school finance.
If you’re in Iowa and want to talk school finance and left organizing come on out tomorrow night! iowacci.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/even...
February 1, 2026 at 10:43 PM
Attention Iowa folks interested in public schools!! You won’t want to miss this, @schooldaves.bsky.social brings so much expertise and interesting ideas to school finance.
If you’re in Iowa and want to talk school finance and left organizing come on out tomorrow night! iowacci.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/even...
February 1, 2026 at 4:28 PM
If you’re in Iowa and want to talk school finance and left organizing come on out tomorrow night! iowacci.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/even...
Reposted by david i. backer
A constructive agenda for Iowa's public schools:
"Iowa leaders need to double-down on what common sense and school finance experts like @schooldaves.bsky.social tell us to be true, 'Schools need money to do well … given less, they do less.'"
www.thegazette.com/guest-column...
"Iowa leaders need to double-down on what common sense and school finance experts like @schooldaves.bsky.social tell us to be true, 'Schools need money to do well … given less, they do less.'"
www.thegazette.com/guest-column...
Opinion: A constructive agenda is needed for Iowa's public schools
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds greets school children before signing a bill that creates education savings accounts, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, …
www.thegazette.com
January 31, 2026 at 3:18 PM
A constructive agenda for Iowa's public schools:
"Iowa leaders need to double-down on what common sense and school finance experts like @schooldaves.bsky.social tell us to be true, 'Schools need money to do well … given less, they do less.'"
www.thegazette.com/guest-column...
"Iowa leaders need to double-down on what common sense and school finance experts like @schooldaves.bsky.social tell us to be true, 'Schools need money to do well … given less, they do less.'"
www.thegazette.com/guest-column...
I was today years old when I learned about the video where Secretary of Education Linda McMahon slaps her daughter in a televised wrestling show. www.youtube.com/watch?v=WutK...
Linda McMahon slaps her daughter Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley: RAW IS WAR, Apr. 17, 2000
YouTube video by FullWithDivas
www.youtube.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:57 PM
I was today years old when I learned about the video where Secretary of Education Linda McMahon slaps her daughter in a televised wrestling show. www.youtube.com/watch?v=WutK...
Some organizing going on against the national voucher program in the Trump II big terrible bill. progressive.org/op-eds/state...
States Should Reject Federal School Voucher Scheme
Vouchers hurt public schools and their students.
progressive.org
January 30, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Some organizing going on against the national voucher program in the Trump II big terrible bill. progressive.org/op-eds/state...
Reposted by david i. backer
Universal child care depends on a workforce that shows up every day. Passing this legislation is a choice to fund care by valuing the people who provide it and the families who depend on it.
Thanks to the many legislators championing these bills this session.
www.investinourny.org/2026agenda
Thanks to the many legislators championing these bills this session.
www.investinourny.org/2026agenda
January 28, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Universal child care depends on a workforce that shows up every day. Passing this legislation is a choice to fund care by valuing the people who provide it and the families who depend on it.
Thanks to the many legislators championing these bills this session.
www.investinourny.org/2026agenda
Thanks to the many legislators championing these bills this session.
www.investinourny.org/2026agenda
Here’s my interview on KPFA yesterday, talking about Marx, education, etc. kpfa.org/episode/educ...
Education Today - January 28, 2026 | KPFA
Professor David Backer looks at educational policy and finance from within a Marxist perspective, and he leads a group within the American Education Research Association Education Today is a radio sho...
kpfa.org
January 29, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Here’s my interview on KPFA yesterday, talking about Marx, education, etc. kpfa.org/episode/educ...
I'm about to go live on KPFA in Berkeley, CA, 94.1. Stream it! kpfa.org
KPFA | Community Powered Radio
here
kpfa.org
January 28, 2026 at 10:28 PM
I'm about to go live on KPFA in Berkeley, CA, 94.1. Stream it! kpfa.org