OBAMA USES STICK AND CARROT TO PUSH AGENDA

The New York Times discuss how President Obama pushes an education shift and persuades states to rewrite their education laws in order to create more charter schools and expand the use of student test scores in evaluating teachers. Schools that do not comply with the new education law will not be eligible for the $4.3 billion stimulus money that will available to about a dozen states. The law is aimed to bring all students to proficiency in reading and math by 2014 and schools that do not meet annual goals will be penalized.

As with any proposed law, there are supporters and critics. Those who are opposed to the education reform are worried that the stimulus funds provide the federal government with the ability to impose bureaucratic demands. Most states however, are supporting the education policy. Illinois (where Applebatch is located), Indiana, Louisiana, and Tennessee have acted to bring their education policies in alignment with President Obama’s school improvement agenda. California, New York, and Wisconsin are currently not eligible for the grant because of state laws that are limiting the use of student achievement data in teacher evaluation.

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