Obama's "A" word, throwing teachers under the bus?
by Samuel Reed III on Mar 16 2010
The “A” word is becoming the key buzzword in education reform. President Obama’s sweeping education reform plans are anchored on accountability. But does accountability mean some deserving and undeserving teachers will be thrown under the bus?
Recently Obama weighed in on the plans to fire the entire 93-member staff at Central Falls High School in Rhode Island.
Obama’s response to the firing matches his reform plans. He delivered his standard accountability rhetoric during an appearance before the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce when he declared
"So if a school is struggling, we have to work with the principal and the teachers to find a solution. We've got to give them a chance to make meaningful improvements. But if a school continues to fail its students year after year after year, if it doesn't show signs of improvement, then there's got to be a sense of accountability.”
Central Falls High is a low-performing high school according to No Child Left Behind accountability measures. Central Falls High has a graduation rate of 48 percent. Only seven percent of its students are at grade-level proficiency in math.
Race to the Top encourages accountability
Central Falls High's fate coincides with Rhode Island's push to garner millions of dollars of stimulus funds for education reform.
Accountability is already taking shape in Philadelphia. Many Philadelphia