I think it's fair to say that our public schools have been a total failure on average across this country.

The school systems are run for the providers rather than the beneficiaries.

It is really hard to argue that we shouldn't do something dramatically different in our public schools.

That's Michael Bloomberg three years ago, before he was a candidate for the

Democratic presidential nomination. As mayor of New York, Bloomberg implemented school reform

in a big way, especially by supporting charter schools. But those are anathema to teachers' unions,

and they are a major element of the Democratic Party that Bloomberg now wants to lead.

Here's what a prominent Bloomberg critic has to say.

Their ideal was in New York City when Mayor Bloomberg controlled the city,

he was able to close hundreds of schools and open hundreds of schools

and open almost 200 charter schools.

That kind of one-person rule is ideal.

Ideal for Bloomberg as mayor, but not necessarily in the Democratic presidential primaries.

We don't know that charter schools will crop up, but just in case, we'll get the background

in a moment from Diane Ravich, the woman you just heard.

In the meantime, charter schools and standardized testing are major issues in next month's elections

for seats on the L.A. Unified School Board. Howard Bloom is education reporter for the L.A. Times.

Always good to have you back with us.

Happy to do it. Okay. So all of a sudden you're reporting,

$2 million are being spent in these races by a man

who's very much a supporter of standardized testing.

Well, standardized testing and charter schools,

...