In the context of the last two years' recession, parents, teachers and administrators seem to increasingly welcome school-business "partnerships" that they hope may help ward off program cuts. Businesses encourage such arrangements because school-based marketing and advertising programs are perfectly poised to "brand" children…

This report describes exclusive contractual agreements between businesses and public education agencies. It cites such examples as contracts between school districts and soft drink manufacturers, terming them "schoolhouse commercialism." It also provides data that explain why schools are so attractive to advertisers, and the reasons why…