Jonathan KantrowitzPolitical activist, health nut |
The Commissioner’s Network is not about school improvement or community engagement. It is about power.
by Wendy Lecker
…SB 24…gives sweeping powers over schools with the lowest test scores to the state education commissioner in establishing a Commissioner’s Network. The commissioner will decide how and by whom these schools are run. He can assume the powers of the board of education and waive any board of education rule that interferes with his plan for the school. He can withhold funding if the school doesn’t comply with his plan.
…SB 24…gives sweeping powers over schools with the lowest test scores to the state education commissioner in establishing a Commissioner’s Network. The commissioner will decide how and by whom these schools are run. He can assume the powers of the board of education and waive any board of education rule that interferes with his plan for the school. He can withhold funding if the school doesn’t comply with his plan.
He can bring in any “entity,” even a private company, to run the school.
The proponents of the Commissioner’s Network repeatedly declare that “the status quo isn’t working” and