Take a look at the text of an invitation that landed in my inbox a few hours ago, and tell me this isn't new and different:
JOIN THE ED CHALLENGE FOR CHANGEOn the eve of the Democratic National Convention, many of the nation's top progressive education reform groups will be convening a forum in Denver to highlight the growing consensus for a bold new direction in federal education policy--and to spotlight the exciting work of a new generation of reformers who are already making change happen on the ground across America.
We invite you to join us for this important discussion and hear the Challenge for Change we will be issuing to the Democratic Party leadership to push for a truly innovative, 21st century education agenda.
So who are "the nation's top progressive education reform groups" that are convening this forum? Have a gander:
Democrats for Education Reform; The Education Equality Project; Daniels Fund; Piton Foundation; Center for African American Policy at the University of Denver; New Schools Venture Fund; Education Reform Now; Education Trust; Ed In '08; Progressive Policy Institute; School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado; National Association of Charter School Authorizers; National Council of La Raza; Public Education & Business Coalition; Massachusetts 2020;?? Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound; Citizens Commission on Civil Rights; Center for American Progress; Donnell-Kay Foundation; Colorado League of Charter Schools; A+ Denver; Colorado Children's Campaign; PICO National Network; Metro Organizations for People; Padres U??idos; Denver School of Science and Technology; The Odyssey School; GetSmart Schools; Denver Venture School; Center for Policy Entrepreneurship; Manual High School; West Denver Preparatory Charter; AXL Academy *
I don't do political conventions, so I won't be attending this event, but the optimist in me thinks this is a very significant, and healthy, development--both for the Democratic party and for American education politics writ large. At the same time, I suspect that the "bold new direction in federal education policy" that the group will propose will be neither bold nor new, but will amount to a call for more federal mandates and more federal spending. What would be bold and new is for Democrats to be more humble about Uncle Sam's abilities to make education reform happen. But that's a fight for another day.
* I notice that Education Sector is missing. Is it not considered among "the nation's top progressive education reform groups"? Or does it still consider itself an "independent" analyst and not an advocate for any particular position? Strange.
