More Unions Bow Out of "Race to Top"
You can tick off a few more state-union squabbles about the second round of the Race to the Top.
Indiana officials are no longer moving forward, citing the state union's opposition to the program as a factor. The Colorado Education Association, a supporter of the state's previous Race to the Top bid, now formally opposes a tenure-reform bill that lawmakers want to pass to improve their chances at winning. Support from Minnesota's state union seems unlikely, given disagreements over the teacher sections of the state's plan.
A lack of "collaboration" is the big term of art for why these unions are bowing out, and again I really wish they'd be more specific about what that term's supposed to mean. Obviously there are substantive policy differences between unions and state leaders. So does collaboration mean splitting the baby? Does it mean, shut up and do what we want? Does it mean, give a little on evaluation, get a little funding?
You'll have to read Michele McNeil's take on whether this is a result of the common (incorrect?) narrative about the importance of "stakeholder buy-in" or just morning-after regret. But it bears watching.
Right on the heels of "musical chairs-gate" in Minnesota, there are some odd public-relations moves going on. In Colorado today, there's a union-sponsored "rally" in Denver for teachers unhappy about the tenure bill. But a
Indiana officials are no longer moving forward, citing the state union's opposition to the program as a factor. The Colorado Education Association, a supporter of the state's previous Race to the Top bid, now formally opposes a tenure-reform bill that lawmakers want to pass to improve their chances at winning. Support from Minnesota's state union seems unlikely, given disagreements over the teacher sections of the state's plan.
A lack of "collaboration" is the big term of art for why these unions are bowing out, and again I really wish they'd be more specific about what that term's supposed to mean. Obviously there are substantive policy differences between unions and state leaders. So does collaboration mean splitting the baby? Does it mean, shut up and do what we want? Does it mean, give a little on evaluation, get a little funding?
You'll have to read Michele McNeil's take on whether this is a result of the common (incorrect?) narrative about the importance of "stakeholder buy-in" or just morning-after regret. But it bears watching.
Right on the heels of "musical chairs-gate" in Minnesota, there are some odd public-relations moves going on. In Colorado today, there's a union-sponsored "rally" in Denver for teachers unhappy about the tenure bill. But a