Blog: The nation’s wave of teacher strikes may hit L.A. this week. But here’s how ours is different

“UTLA’s actions are a last gasp of desperation to protect a failed status quo and control the work of teachers and parents who want, I think, dramatically better for their students,” said Jeanne Allen, of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Education Reform, which is funded by pro-charter donors and favors the use of public funds to subsidize private school tuition.