Saturday, March 30, 2013

Ten Things Legislators Should Know and Do When Making Education Policy - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

Ten Things Legislators Should Know and Do When Making Education Policy - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher:


Ten Things Legislators Should Know and Do When Making Education Policy

A couple of days ago, I had coffee with Betsy Coffia, who ran last November--unsuccessfully--for a seat representing the 104th district in the Michigan House of Representatives. Coffia and I had never met, although we have several mutual friends. We found each other on-line, in a Facebook argument over Detroit Public Schools' Emergency Manager. She liked what I had to say, and suggested we meet.
It was a great conversation. Coffia plans to run again, and asked lots of questions: What did I think about cyber-schools? Charter chains? The value of early childhood programs? Well-known education non-profits in Michigan?Although she worked for a time in a Head Start program, she admitted there were lots of theories and ideas in education policy she found murky.
Then she said this: Wouldn't it be great if there were a guide for legislators to making useful education