It wasn’t so long ago that reformers were regularly out-hustled by the education establishment. While we were mostly putting out white papers and writing op-eds, they were making campaign donations and marching on statehouses. Unfortunately, our compelling ideas were no match for their raw political power. But compelling ideas plus political power—now that’s a combination that can move mountains. And it’s also the lesson from Connecticut and Colorado this week. The former is on the verge of adopting a far-reaching “Race to the Top” reform bill that makes student achievement a key component of teacher evaluations and lifts the cap on the number of students in high-performing charter schools. The latter is getting close to passing a bold teacher tenure-and-evaluation bill of its own. In both cases, the reform movement’s new political savvy was on display. The Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now (ConnCAN) spearheaded the push for reform in the Nutmeg State, tapping grass-roots communications, television adds, and old-fashioned lobbying to win its case. And the Mountain State’s effort is led by State Senator Mike Johnston, a founder of New Leaders for New Schools, one of the reform movement’s first members to win elective office. It just proves the old adage: If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.
“Controversial bill to change teacher tenure has four days to pass House,” by Jeremy P. Meyer, Denver Post, May 4, 2010
“Opinion: Colorado is Ground Zero,” by Alan Gottlieb, Huffington Post, May 4, 2010
“Sweeping School Reform Bill Goes to Rell For Signature,” by Grace E. Merritt and Steven Goode, Hartford Current, May 6, 2010