HB 176 was written to position Kentucky to score better in the "Race to the Top" funding competition.
The Obama administration says it wants to reward proposals that commit to bold change with extensive community support to improve learning results.
Bold change and system reforms are needed in Kentucky. Other states are proposing them.
However, it appears teachers unions are content to even forego additional stimulus money in order to protect status quo -- even if kids are not learning.
The New Jersey Education Association was lobbying against the state's bid for up to $400 million in federal grants for school reform because it had too many serious flaws, such as efforts to tie teacher pay more closely to student performance!
New York Gov. David Paterson announced legislation Thursday to eliminate the 200 charter-school cap, allow swifter state takeovers of low-performing schools and other measures that would boost New York's chances of getting up to $700 million in federal education funds. The NY governor's legislation would move from July 1 to Jan. 15 the expiration of a ban on using student test scores for teacher-tenure evaluations. But the New York United Teachers don't think the legislation is necessary.
California is having trouble navigating the policy obstacle course involved in qualifying and competing because of resistance from teachers unions opposing reforms necessary to qualify for the funds.
Teachers unions in Florida and Minnesota have threatened to sit out the race.
No such problems exist in Kentucky. Kentucky legislators and education heads avoided union wrath by proposing to maintain the sweet and comfortable status quo of mediocrity and even failure in our education system. HB 176 contains no mention of pay for performance; no putting skilled teachers where learning gaps are the greatest; no mention of charter schools. It includes only a couple of new surveys and a lot of empty spin.
Some things never change. Kids take it on the chin again as Kentucky submits its words, words, just bold words "Spin to the Top" application.
No comments:
Post a Comment