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David Stanley Ford

Obama plan swaps cash for ‘change’ in education

By The Associated Press    Comments Comment on this article2
Published: November 4, 2009

WASHINGTON — Using stimulus dollars as bait, President Barack Obama is coaxing states to rewrite education laws and cut deals with unions as they compete for $5 billion in school reform grants, the most money a president has ever had for overhauling schools.

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And it may end up going to only a few states.

In Wisconsin, where Obama will visit Wednesday, lawmakers are poised to change a law to boost their state’s chances. Nine other states have taken similar steps.

And states can’t even apply for the money yet.

"There is an appetite out there for change,” Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in an interview.

"There’s been really dramatic movement in a number of states,” said Duncan. Wisconsin lawmakers planned to vote Thursday to lift a ban on using student test scores to judge teachers. That clears the way for an Obama priority, teacher pay tied to performance.

California lifted a similar ban last month. Charter school restrictions or budget cuts were eased in eight states — Louisiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Delaware, Indiana, Ohio, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

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David Stanley Ford


Related Topics: Domestic Policy, Social Policy, Political Policy, Politics, Education, Education Issues, Education Standards, Education Policy


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I am still waiting for the DOK to present the Tulsa Supt's "plan" for merit pay. They said they have it all done, everyone has signed on....let's see how it works!
Matt1, OKC - Nov 6, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Using test scores as the sole source of teacher performance will end teacher cooperation in schools. This has been proven in California schools. Knowledge will suffer for this idiot's poor choices for education reform.
Jon, Edmond - Nov 6, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Report as inappropriate or
Ignore Jon

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