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Melissa Daar Carvajal

@mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social
548 followers 458 following 119 posts

SF Excelsior mom, Schott Foundation communications director. Dancer and thinker. Public education is my beat - culture is my inspiration. Posts are my own.

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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
California’s education funding level rises compared to other states edsource.org?page_id=757381
edsource.org
California’s education funding level rises compared to other states
In the latest ranking, California has leaped forward in per-student funding, according to a report by the Education Law Center. The report also indicates it has untapped capacity for more education fu...
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
When Mission High tops UC Berkeley admit rates, the Chronicle “investigates.” Is it local priority? Study says no. So maybe it’s “how well schools help students navigate admissions.” You don’t say. Stable counselors, a year‑long senior access course—support works. www.sfchronicle.com/college-admi...
sfchronicle.com
Do California high schools close to UCLA and UC Berkeley see the highest acceptance rates?
Are the most elite UCs admitting applicants from high schools in their area at higher rates? Here’s what the data shows.
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Moms Demand Action @momsdemandaction.org · 13/03/2026
Six years ago today, 26-year-old Breonna Taylor was shot six times and killed by police officers who forced entry into her Louisville, KY apartment. Her death sparked nationwide outrage and calls for an end to police brutality and gun violence against Black people. #SayHerName #BlackLivesMatter
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
Those 20 academies, all founded in the 1960s and 1970s, brought in more than $20 million from the state in the past three years alone. None reflected the demographics of their communities. Few even came close.
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SEIU_ORG @seiu.org · 22/02/2026
New reporting shows Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, and Tesla collectively received $51 billion in tax breaks following last year’s corporate tax cuts — paying an effective federal tax rate of just 4.9%. TAX THE RICH FAIRLY! seiu.co/4qRJulh
itep.org
Four Big Tech Companies Avoid $51 Billion in Taxes in Wake of One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Four of the corporations whose CEOs flanked President Trump at his 2025 inauguration ceremony have now disclosed that they collectively received $51 billion in federal tax breaks in 2025, much of that...
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Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 22/02/2026
The most disturbing part is knowing ICE left a little girl alone and didn’t care. Annabella was six years old when her dad was detained by ICE while he was picking up their food order. She stayed inside, waiting. He never returned to her that day. 1/2
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Adam "I Was Hoping We Could Keep It" Laats @adamlaats.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
The harsher the laws, the more scared elites are. Exhibit B: in the 1800s, GA already had a brutal law against Black education. But the leaders of Augusta passed an even more brutal one--penalizing even white landowners if anyone held a clandestine school on their lots.
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
Agreed. Another teacher spouse, sharing a story of the San Francisco teachers strike. Shouldn’t have been a surprise that parents and student support the teachers.
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
For rural communities, public schools are home — and they’re not giving up their tax dollars to private schools outside it. (You can also check out a bilingual video for rural communities pinned at the top of my profile.) mississippitoday.org/2026/02/03/s...
mississippitoday.org
‘The bill dies today.’ Senate committee kills House school choice measure - Mississippi Today
Senate leaders have made clear they are opposed to voucher programs that siphon money away from public schools — so opposed that there was no discussion when the bill was considered by the committee.
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Randi Weingarten 🖇️📚✊🇺🇸 @rweingarten.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Good for Salesforce employees!!!! apple.news/Ar9XDYYUGRdy...
apple.news
Salesforce Workers Circulate Open Letter Urging CEO Marc Benioff to Denounce ICE — WIRED
The letter comes after Benioff joked at a company event on Monday that ICE was monitoring international employees in attendance, sparking immediate backlash.
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Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
More than half the drugs on the TrumpRx site have a cheaper generic version on the market. Pristiq, an antidepressant, is available with a TrumpRx coupon for ~$200 for a 30-day supply. A generic version is on GoodRx for less than $30 and Mark Cuban's CostPlusDrugs for $16.65.
axios.com
How TrumpRx drug prices compare to generic alternatives
Patients could save more buying non-branded copycat drugs, even if they don't have insurance.
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Sarah Wood @sarahwood.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
My almost 105 year old abuelita-in-law is VERY excited for Bad Bunny. She came from the island, and for her entire life, she’s been an American citizen! Voted for FDR! 🇵🇷🇺🇸
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
With strike looming, SF parents’ loyalties are with teachers — for now sfstandard.com/2026/02/05/p...
sfstandard.com
San Francisco parents react to teachers strike decision
“Whatever they are asking for, I am completely 100% behind them,” said one Clarendon Elementary School mom.
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EdSource @edsource.org · 06/02/2026
Union members said the district has refused to address issues such as special education caseload, class size and health care for educators.
edsource.org
UPDATE: Dublin Unified School District teachers vote to authorize strike
The latest education news updates from EdSource.
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Billionaires profit from locking up immigrants while we fight for our kids. My teacher husband works 8 AM to 7 PM, weekends too, supporting 150 students. The issue isn’t just the district or unions—it’s that our schools get crumbs while our communities are targeted. For SFUSD parents, summary below.
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
missionlocal.org/2026/01/sfus...
missionlocal.org
As strike looms, SFUSD is already undermining immigrant students
Newcomer students and families say they've been blindsided by school district's moves. Now they're speaking out.
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
Leaders like Manuela Arciniegas remind me why more durable, flexible support for grantees, is especially critical for racial justice organizations. She has championed sustainable grantmaking and boldly volunteered her foundation to be benchmarked with full transparency.
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
eltecolote.org/content/en/i...
eltecolote.org
Students walk out as SF joins national protest against ICE
Thousands of students and teachers walked out of classrooms across San Francisco on Thursday and converged at Dolores Park in solidarity with Minnesota.
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Heath Haussamen @haussamen.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
Read or listen to the full story at haussamen.com.
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
I’ve noticed a divide among the people I talk to in my life and at work. And this piece exactly defines it. What’s interesting is who has more faith in accomplishing change. youtu.be/pUsWF70IS9Y?...
youtu.be
Beyond the Headlines - SNL
YouTube video by Saturday Night Live
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Aaron Stewart-Ahn @badideas.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
A video of Alex Pretti reading out the final salute of an unnamed veteran he cared for until the end of his life in the ICU, posted to Facebook by his son.
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
Where is philanthropy’s response? Where is our program of offering $100k to any ice agent who is willing to leave their position and take a one day civil rights seminar. Billion of dollars in DAFs! Where is the foundation that’s gonna start this program? bsky.app/profile/bill...
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Paul F. Tompkins @pftompkins.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
Oh was this sort of thing not covered in the initial training
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The Verge @theverge.com · 25/01/2026
"Why is it so normal for law enforcement — those who are supposed to be keepers of law and order — to kill Americans? And why is the only question at the end of the day how much their victims deserved to die?" Read more from @sarahjeong.bsky.social: www.theverge.com/policy/86745...
Verge headline: It doesn't matter if Alex Pretty had a gun
by Sarah Jeong

Photo by Steven Garcia depicts several masked law enforcement agents soaked in red light at night
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Yosi Sergant @a35mmlife.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Wow.
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
When we fight, we win! Go @democracyfund.bsky.social . apnews.com/article/dei-...
apnews.com
Trump administration drops legal appeal over anti-DEI funding threat to schools and colleges
The Trump administration is dropping its appeal of a federal court ruling that blocked a campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion threatening federal funding to the nation’s schools and colle...
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
edsource.org/2026/fresno-...
edsource.org
Fresno Unified’s $30 million investment to support students is paying off
Fresno Unified, in negotiations with its teachers in 2023, agreed to fund student support initiatives with $30 million, intended to serve their needs beyond the classroom.
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Politico @politico.com · 17/01/2026
Israel objects to US announcement of leaders who will help oversee next steps in Gaza
dlvr.it
Israel objects to US announcement of leaders who will help oversee next steps in Gaza
In a rare rebuke of its ally, Israel said the Gaza executive committee “was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy.”
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Bunni😷🌍🗣️❤️✨☮️✊🏾 @bunnisays.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
Bad Bunny Super Bowl promo is beautiful. Hate is so embarrassing. Imaging being against everyone together dancing to good music 🥹🥹🥹
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
Let's dance. www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/01/17/a...
eastbaytimes.com
A brief history of Bay Area dance
Over the past century, the region has attracted pioneering artists who strived for innovation, accessibility and diversity in dance — helping to create a rich tradition that has nurtured all …
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Randi Weingarten 🖇️📚✊🇺🇸 @rweingarten.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
In San Francisco, educators are building schools rooted in care—supporting unhoused students and immigrant families while fighting for the resources kids need to thrive. This is what it looks like when unions put students first. #PublicSchoolProud @cftunion.bsky.social www.aft.org/news/heart-s...
aft.org
The heart of San Francisco educators
At United Educators of San Francisco, members care about the usual union issues: salaries, benefits and working conditions. But the real heart of the organization is elsewhere, building strong schools...
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Integration! I’ve always thought that we don’t leverage the power of integration
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Harvard Education Press @harvard-ed-press.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
THE PRIVATEERS by Josh Cowen was referenced in an article published by Inside Philanthropy titled, "Inside the Push to Privatize Education in a New Gilded Age." Read this piece here:
bit.ly
Inside the Push to Privatize Education in a New Gilded Age
During the first Gilded Age, philanthropy helped set the stage for the U.S. public education system. Today, many billionaire donors appear intent on abolishing it altogether.
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
A Schott HEAL Together grantee and Minneapolis parent, Amanda Otero, Take Action Minnesota, spoke to Rachel Maddow last night, check it out! www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
ms.now
ICE intimidation tactics backfire as Americans rally to defend communities
ICE agents dressed in paramilitary costume and terrorizing communities with heavy-handed tactics appear to have thought their abuses would earn them respect and obedience. On the contrary, Americans a...
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🦋Cosmo the Shaggy Dog🦋 @cosmotheshaggydog.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
Tail wags dog. In the film, titled Wag the Dog, fictional political fixers orchestrate the invasion of a country in order to distract from a presidential sex scandal. “Politics is the art of controlling your environment.” – Hunter S. Thompson
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Tim Dickinson @timdickinson.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Some of these redactions are almost like modern art
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Olivia Messer @oliviamesser.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
Emmanuel, a 15-year-old with intellectual disabilities, wandered away from his mom’s fruit stand in October. She reported him missing to Houston police. But instead of reuniting them, the city turned him over to ICE. “They’re failing all of us,” his mom said. thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/24/d...
thebarbedwire.com
A Disabled Child’s Mom Reported Him Missing. He Was Locked Away by Federal Immigration Authorities for 48 Days.
Emmanuel, a 15-year-old who has an intellectual disability, walked away from his mom’s fruit stand in October. Houston Police called ICE.
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Christy Lambertson @christy-lambertson.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
My kid's school district, which stayed virtual longer than almost everybody and had some of the strictest COVID protocols in the country, just had its highest test scores ever, a thing that no media outside of L.A. will ever mention: www.lausd.org/site/default...
lausd.org
Los Angeles Unified Students Show Highest Test Scores Ever in Reading, Math, and Science (10-09-25)
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JoJoFromJerz @jojofromjerz.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
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Education Next @educationnext.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Should Schools Teach That America Is Good? Polling finds that teachers, more than the general public, believe schools should. bit.ly/4qwVdXm
bit.ly
Should Schools Teach That America Is Good?
Polling finds that teachers, more than the general public, believe schools should
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
See something. Say something.
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
x.com/sf_mills/sta...
x.com
Emily Mills on X: "Those people really DID whip up the Dems. They bought headlines, candidates, and media. They bought the district attorney. They promoted and paid bullies who blocked dissent. There needs to be a full post mortem for the public if we want to successfully fight back." / X
Those people really DID whip up the Dems. They bought headlines, candidates, and media. They bought the district attorney. They promoted and paid bullies who blocked dissent. There needs to be a full post mortem for the public if we want to successfully fight back.
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
Let’s do something to help young men and stop debating what Charlie Kirk said or did not say.
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Abby Vesoulis @abbyvesoulis.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
"It is often the case that the individuals who commit political violence in this country have incoherent ideological backgrounds. They don’t have clear manifestos, nor do they come from a background that signals attachment to one party or the other." www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
motherjones.com
Both the Left and Right are targeted by political violence. Who perpetrates it?
"What really connects these folks is not a coherent ideology."
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Jon Cooper @joncooper-us.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
Wow, indeed!!!
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Patton Oswalt @pattonoswalt.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
Escalating Attacks on Immigrant Communities “Their labor makes coastal Georgia thrive, said Daniela Rodríguez, Executive Director of MESE. "We cannot call ourselves a civilized society if the very people who build our homes, our cars, and our future are treated this way." www.migrantequity.org/press
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Melissa Daar Carvajal @mdaarcarvajal.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
schottfoundation.org/the-latest/s...
schottfoundation.org
School Vouchers are “A Bad Deal:” New Bilingual Video Series for Rural Families
Migrant Equity Southeast (MESE), a Schott Foundation grantee partner, has produced a new dramatic and user-friendly explainer series for Latino English and Spanish-speaking audiences.
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