Corporate Education Storm of Reform Hits Alabama
For the most part, the winds of corporate education reform sweeping over the country in the last decade bypassed Alabama.
That is until the elections of 2010 put Republican legislators in firm control of both the House and Senate. In addition, a GOP governor and Lt. governor were elected.
Then in 2011, like a storm blowing in from the gulf, the GOP majority took a run at bringing charter schools to the state. And like so many “ed reform” efforts, this one was rooted much more deeply in trying to atone for past political defeats than in trying to truly advance the cause of better education for school kids.
For years, the Alabama Education Association, under the leadership of Dr. Paul Hubbert, was THE player in state politics. Hubbert’s grassroots organization, fueled by substantial PAC contributions from teachers and support personnel, swayed legislative races time after time.
And in the 2010 cycle, they played a huge role in the final outcome of the Republican primary for governor. The
That is until the elections of 2010 put Republican legislators in firm control of both the House and Senate. In addition, a GOP governor and Lt. governor were elected.
Then in 2011, like a storm blowing in from the gulf, the GOP majority took a run at bringing charter schools to the state. And like so many “ed reform” efforts, this one was rooted much more deeply in trying to atone for past political defeats than in trying to truly advance the cause of better education for school kids.
For years, the Alabama Education Association, under the leadership of Dr. Paul Hubbert, was THE player in state politics. Hubbert’s grassroots organization, fueled by substantial PAC contributions from teachers and support personnel, swayed legislative races time after time.
And in the 2010 cycle, they played a huge role in the final outcome of the Republican primary for governor. The
