School Improvement Models Face Opposition in Congress
First it was Race to the Top. Now the school improvement models are running into trouble on Capitol Hill.
Flanked by major players in both the national teachers' unions, Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, today announced a framework (not a bill) that would basically ditch the idea of having just four options in favor of a broader array of possible remedies for schools.
Chu wants to use the reauthorization of ESEA to prod schools to promote flexibility and collaboration (such as beefing up mentoring and induction programs), remove barriers to student success (such as increasing community involvement and support), and foster teachers and school leaders (such as increasing the use of support staff like speech therapists and school psychologists). And she wants schools to be given a longer time frame, three to five years, to turn around.
Not surprisingly, Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, who showed up
Will Duncan Regret 'High, High Bar' in Race to Top Round 1?
Flanked by major players in both the national teachers' unions, Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, today announced a framework (not a bill) that would basically ditch the idea of having just four options in favor of a broader array of possible remedies for schools.
Chu wants to use the reauthorization of ESEA to prod schools to promote flexibility and collaboration (such as beefing up mentoring and induction programs), remove barriers to student success (such as increasing community involvement and support), and foster teachers and school leaders (such as increasing the use of support staff like speech therapists and school psychologists). And she wants schools to be given a longer time frame, three to five years, to turn around.
Not surprisingly, Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, who showed up
Will Duncan Regret 'High, High Bar' in Race to Top Round 1?
Minnesota is out of Race to the Top, round two.
Massachusetts is publicly thinking (posturing?) about it.
With two states that have traditionally been national leaders in student performance waffling, or down right begging off of the competition, you've got to wonder how strong the field of competition will be for those states that remain. To be sure, some very, very bold plans will come in from the likes of Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, and Georgia, which were strong finalists in round one. But this time, because U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan set a "high, high bar" in round one, picking only two winners, he's looking to give away 10 to 15 more awards. Just how deep is the Race to the Top bench?
Besides Minnesota, we already know that Kansas, Indiana, and almost certainly Alaska and Texas won't apply in round two. West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin also announced yesterday that his state is dropping out. Vermontannounced late last month it wouldn't apply either. Neither will South Dakota, Idaho, or Wyoming. Other states that likely won't apply, based on their decision not to file an optional notice of intent with the department, are:
Massachusetts is publicly thinking (posturing?) about it.
With two states that have traditionally been national leaders in student performance waffling, or down right begging off of the competition, you've got to wonder how strong the field of competition will be for those states that remain. To be sure, some very, very bold plans will come in from the likes of Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, and Georgia, which were strong finalists in round one. But this time, because U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan set a "high, high bar" in round one, picking only two winners, he's looking to give away 10 to 15 more awards. Just how deep is the Race to the Top bench?
Besides Minnesota, we already know that Kansas, Indiana, and almost certainly Alaska and Texas won't apply in round two. West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin also announced yesterday that his state is dropping out. Vermontannounced late last month it wouldn't apply either. Neither will South Dakota, Idaho, or Wyoming. Other states that likely won't apply, based on their decision not to file an optional notice of intent with the department, are:
