Politics: Democrats and Vouchers and Wile E. Coyote

Last week in Chicago, firebrand state senator James Meeks (D-IL) suggested that things were getting to be so bad with the Chicago Public Schools that he might be open to private school vouchers. Andrew Coulson at Cato notes that Meeks joins a "small but growing" handful of local Democrats.  As for the national Dems who remain opposed to vouchers, Coulson suggests that they are, like Wile E. Coyote, experiencing a "temporary suspension of the law of gravity." 

NCLB: Precedent Cited For Lengthy Health Debate

"Last Congress we spent four weeks on a farm bill. Within this decade we spent seven weeks on No Child Left Behind and eight weeks on an energy bill."

(Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell on the upcoming health care debate.)

On The Move: Miller Staffer Heads To TFA

Former Clinton campaign educationista Catherine Brown has left her spot working for George Miller and is now at TFA, I'm told.  She arrived in Miller's office last year (see Hill profile here).

Her official title was Senior Education Policy adviser, House Committee on Education and Labor.  Her new title is VP for Strategy & Operations, Public Affairs.  Congrats, condolences.

Anyone else making a move?  Let me know (thisweekineducation at gmail dot com).

NCLB: The Rush Towards Reauthorization

Per yesterday's editorial in the Times (Mr. Duncan and That $4.3 Billion): I guess someone forgot to tell the editorial board that "Race To The Top" is old news.  Selection, implementation -- they've got that in the bag.  It's all about No Child Left Behind reauthorization now.  It's urgent.  We have to do it now.  Haven't you heard?

Well, that's what Arne et al want us to believe.  And so far, the media seems to be going along.  Perhaps they, too, are worried about what's really going to happen when it comes time to award and make real the high-flying promises in those applications.  They bought Duncan's soaring rhetoric about "moon shots" and those tempting factoids about Duncan having more discretionary funding than any Secretary before.

The internal logic of turning to NCLB may even simpler:  having Obama's number-two domestic reform agenda item lined up to be ready when health care is done, one way or the other, no matter whether RTTT is still being rolled out or not.  In reality, RTTT was nothing more than an oversized appropriation -- short-term filler, vamping during the rollout of ARRA and the health care debate.

HELP: Who Will Staff Chairman Harkin For NCLB 2.0?

Who are the main staff people who are going to be doing the heavy lifting for Chairman Harkin if and when it comes time to reauthorize NCLB (aka "The Real Race To The Top")?

I assume they'll bring someone in, but I can't think of anyone who's out there who's any good who doesn't already have a better job or would be willing to do it. The most experienced folks have all been sucked into the Obama administration (though I can see someone getting lent to Harkin for all or part of the time). 

I don't know which of the Kennedy staffers are going to (be asked to) stay, and whether they're any good: Bethany Little is there since earlier this year.  Emma Vadhera left in January and hasn't been replaced to my knowledge.  David Johns (pictured) is still there, I think. I don't know who the education LA is in Harkin's personal office, if he has one.

EDSEC: Secretary's Schedule Of Media Events 9/20-27

Picture caption:  "Thank YOU, little journalist person,  for attending this meaningless media event and covering it as if it were really news, thus ignoring what I'm really up to and who I'm meeting with during the course of the week. Please keep ignoring my unpublicized activities and the fact that the White House is making me look bad by giving detailed information about where the President is and who he meets with."

Senate: HELP For Harkin

"Harkin seems like a strong choice to lead the reauthorization process of ESEA. We shall see."

The Knowledge-Able Source

Legislating: "No Deal Without Something For Everybody"

"He was an ardent advocate for his point of view, but he also knew there was no deal without something for everybody."

Margaret Spellings on Ted Kennedy (The Dallas Morning News)

Video: Senator Franken Is Hot For Geography

Senator Franken's patriotic geographic trick -- and my latest suggestion for an addition to the current AYP school rating system:
Patriot Games | Mother Jones.

Stars: Former "Alias" Star Promos Community Schools On Hill

"Jennifer Garner is pretty in pink as she heads to Capitol Hill on Wednesday in Washington, D.C.The 37-year-old actress, along with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson, introduced the Full Service Community Schools Act." From JustJared.com.

REFORM: We're All Headed To Toronto!

This Newsweek article (Dumb Money) tells us that it's not just the US where use of data to evaluate teachers is controversial, that most of what is popular to do in education -- class size reduction and school modernization, for example -- is least effective, and that Toronto has eliminated the achievement gap has allegedly been eliminated despite a substantial immigrant population.  All aboard!

HOUSE: Fancy New Staff Director For Committee Republicans

The new Republican head of the House education committee John Kline has named Barrett Karr as staff director to head his committee work. 

Click below for the announcement. 

Click the thumbnail to see what she looks like.  (That's a White House staff pic, I think. Showoff!)

Feel free to let us know what you think of the choice, or anything about her past work on the Hill or in the previous Administration. Feel free to pass along embarrassing party pics from TCU days as well. 

STIMULUS 2: What To Include In The Next Stimulus?

 If there is a second stimulus -- odds are there won't be but let's pretend otherwise -- what should it include by way of education funding?  Other more reformy types will disagree but my vote would not be for adding to the innovation and incentive funds.  There's too much of that distraction already, without any real chance of being big enough money to make a difference.  (And way too much USDE micromanaging in the works already.) 

Instead, I'd go for more stabilization money to prevent classroom layoffs.  Something to help make sure that pensions and benefits don't get destroyed.  Some sort of summer school or extended year subsidy to try and make up for all the summer school that's being cut.  Boring stuff, I know.  I'd love to do more, but I feel like everyone's been putting the cart before the horse these last few months. Trying to do too much with too little.  Looking a little bit too far ahead and not looking at the immediate economic problems.

The Administration knows that the first Stimulus underestimated the problem, and the Department recently accelerated its laggardly schedule for getting the SFSF dollars out the door.  I'm told that one of the main reasons was data showing that state budgets are much worse than was previously thought. 

SENATE: Will Franken Be Another Wellstone On Education?

Traditional liberals and progressives will be particularly pleased if Al Franken gets seated on the HELP committee, as anticipated, and takes on his predecessor's pro-teacher, anti-testing agenda.  Wellstone wasn't always the most effective legislator -- 98-2 votes didn't bother him much -- but he was clear and principled in ways that many remember fondly.  And, once the Sotomayor thing is done and we get back to important issues like health care and then eventually NCLB 2.0, it'll be interesting to see if Franken plays the maverick on the left role that Wellstone took on or tries something slightly more moderate.  (Emotional Franken vows to honor Wellstone Minneapolis Star Tribune)

QUOTE: Don't Forget About Unfunded Mandates

"It is important over the next few years for the federal government...to be very mindful of the potential fiscal impact executive orders or legislation could have on states."  (Federal stimulus dollars, state deficits -- and federalism Stateline)

Bet this comes up around NCLB and common standards, if it hasn't already.

USDE: Race Walk To The Top?

It's going to be nearly 10 months until the main part of the RttT money starts rolling out the door, according to Politics K-12.

BELTWAY BANDITS: The Week Ahead In DC

Once a week, I bring you the FritzWire's eclectic (exhaustive?) assemblage of events, reports, hearings, and jobs.  But you should really sign up for it yourself and get it every day.

How else will you be able to keep up on the Stimulus boondoggle, the latest self-serving "research," and the mind-numbingly boring education industry job openings that are out there?

HEARING: What Next For Charter Schools?

Yesterday students at a DC charter school cheered  the appearance of Michelle Obama at their graduation.  

Today charter school folks will enjoy their own moment in the sun as Chairman George Miller convenes a full committee hearing on the topic (Building on What Works at Charter Schools).

That is, unless the members get caught up in the issue of whether charter teachers are public employees (and the underlying issue of how many charter holders farm out their operations to a separate, sometimes private for profit organization).

I'll be there, Tweeting away here and there, though you can watch the hearing for yourself online if you're so inclined.

FRITZ: This Week In Washington

I met Fritz last week for the first time -- he's just like he sounds on the phone:  brash, straight-talking. 

Anyway, here's your weekly FritzWire -- it's nothing pretty but it's got jobs and events and legislation and all the rest so stop your complaining.

You can sign up for the daily version, or just check it out weekly here.

STIMULUS: "TARP For Public Schools"

"If the education community doesn't deliver change with this money, this becomes 'TARP for Public Schools.'"

Amy Wilkins of the Ed Trust, quoted in USA Today: :Stimulus funds up the ante for public schools

FUNDING: Obama's Wish List

Cut from Obama's budget: U.S. education attache to UNESCO LA Times
A $77,000 line item for an apartment in the City of Lights gave at least the appearance of the kind of government excess that the Obama administration said it was eager to stamp out in its 2010 spending plan.

Obama Budget Would Kill Abstinence-Only Funding CQ
President Obama plans to eliminate funding for abstinence-only sex education programs and replace it with money for more inclusive forms of teen pregnancy prevention.

Budget Outlines Funding for Teacher Merit Pay Programs Washington Post
President Obama is seeking to add hundreds of millions for teacher merit pay programs, an investment in a reform that has often drawn criticism from teachers unions.

Whaling education spared budget harpoon MSNBC
In his budget proposal for 2010, Obama seeks several education cuts but spares a $9 million program to promote the history of whaling and trade in Massachusetts.

STANDARDS: Betting On The States

“My sense is we’re placing the bet in the right place.”

George Miller, quoted in CQ Politics:  Putting Students on the Same High-Performance Page

NEA: Top Union Lobbyist Set To Retire - Party On Thursday

Forget Obama's first 100 days.  A fixture in Washington education circles for years, NEA veteran Joel Packer is apparently retiring this week. (Still waiting for confirmation but I think it's true.)  They're partying at the NEA on Thursday, from 6 to 8 PM. Well-wishers are invited to attend.  No RSVP required.

UPDATE:  It's been confirmed by the Packmeister himself, and was apparently first posted over at EIA a couple of months ago.  Free drinks on the NEA!

FRITZ: This Week In Washington

Events, jobs, resources, reports.  Fritz has it all.  (Well, not swine flu hype and not the latest Lindsay Lohan update.)  Just think, though.  You would have had this an hour ago if you subscribed to the free daily FritzWire. Meantime, check out the Monday morning edition below. 

DUNCAN: EdSec To Visit To Key Appropriator's Home State

 EdSec Duncan (and the VPOTUS) are headed to Iowa on Friday for a school visit.  Smart move -- Iowa Senator Tom Harkin is a key appropriator on the Labor-HHS-Education subcommittee. 

FRITZ: This Week In Washington

Today, Fritz tells us about the proper way to deal with Hugo Chavez, the rescue mutt that President Obama should have gotten, and the mysteries of Spring weather patterns. 

No, not really.  Instead, it's all about getting on the Stimulus gravy train, jobz, and events.  Check it out.

CARTOON: National [Debt] Service Corps

FRITZ: This Week In Washington

I heard that Fritz was one of the Navy Seals who helped rescue the American captain from the Somali pirates. 

And still, he manages to get the FritzWire out every day, full of hearings, legislation, events, and jobz.

Click below for today's edition.  Send Fritz an email (fritz@publicprivateaction.com) if you want to get in on the daily version. 

SENATOR: Duncan Move Is "Arrogance Beyond Belief"

"Do we really want a federal official an unelected federal official to be able to start handing out $700 million because they feel they have a moral obligation?," Graham is quoted as saying.  "That is arrogance beyond belief."

Greenville News

FRITZWIRE: This Week In Washington

Wondering when those stim dollars are going to arrive in the mail?

Wondering what your favorite think tank is doing with all that foundation money?

Check out the Fritzwire for today (below) -- and sign up with Herr Fritz if you want to get a daily version.

STIMULUS: Will Governors Raid Ed Funds In Conference Report?

Education advocates watching the conference report process details coming off the Hill worry that Governors will snag money meant for education and, once the law is enacted, divert it to other purposes. See attached table with some late-breaking details.

Governors to track stimulus money Stateline
If Congress delivers the massive $800 billion stimulus package that President Obama is seeking, states will be under a lot more scrutiny than the Wall Street firms that used $18 billion of their federal bailout money for employee bonuses.

States brace for new safety net money Stateline
Most states will not be willing or able to increase their rolls quickly enough to take advantage of the new funding, said Jack Tweedie, director of poverty programs for the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).

HERE: Stim Conf Rpt - Detailed Spending Tables (PDF)

MONEY: Stimulus Special

Here's some news about the ever-changing stimulus plan that's wending its way through Congress:

The Makings of a Stimulus Deal EdWeek
The big education questions are: Will school construction money be restored? And will states get a big chunk of their stabilization money back? And how will the stabilization money be distributed?

How Much Construction Money Would Your School District Lose? US News
See exactly how your school district would lose after the Senate's cuts to the stimulus bill.

Big cuts loom for education: 574,000 jobs at risk USA Today
The projection doesn't account for the effect of stimulus money, but Roza says the reality could actually be worse than she predicts, because she didn't include dropping local funding; it's too difficult to track at the moment.

Teaching the Stimulus PBS
Are your students concerned about the economy? Congress has a bill to help the American economy recover, but the details are maddening.

HILL: Celebrity Hearings Are All The Rage

You pretty much gotta have a celebrity at your hearings these days, and so the Feb. 25 House education committee hearing is bringing in fancy-dancing, flat-abbed Usher to talk about service learning.

Details below. 

No guarantee this is what he'll be wearing, but you can always use your imagination if he dares to show up wearing a tie.

What I'm really hoping for is that someone's going to invite a celeb to a more serious hearing.  Why can't the Jonas Brothers come talk about the comparability provision?  Or George Clooney could talk about performance pay. 

FRITZ: The Week Ahead In Washington

It's called "On The Hill" but it's really much more than that.  Fritz Edelstein has all the education news from DC, including stimulus updates, reports and events, and jobs. 

Check it out below, and be sure to sign up for the daily version too (fritz@publicprivateaction.com). 

Thanks, Fritz!

POLITICS: Former Miller Staffer Joins Reformy Political Action Group

For months, former Miller education staffer Charlie Barone has been using his blog (Swift & Changeable) to support many of the same things as Democrats for Education Reform (DFER), and quietly consulting for them on the side.  Now Barone and DFER are going to make it official.  DFER executive director Joe Williams says that Barone is joining DFER as head of federal policy, bringing with him his expertise on budget and accountability issues -- not to speak of his Hill contacts. Here he is in a rare picture. 

On the Hill, Barone worked closely with the Education Trust and sometimes had run-ins with the NEA and AFT.  He's also done work with Bill Taylor, Dianne Piche at the Citizens' Commission on Civil Rights. Barone will continue to work out of his undisclosed bunker somewhere on the Atlantic seabord.  Here's a 2007 interview I did with Barone, whom I first met in the early 90s when we were bothing working on education issues in the Seante: Former Committee Insider Charles Barone. Congrats, condolences, per usual. 

STIMULUS: Education Programs On The Chopping Block

A friend sent me this List of Nelson Collins Cuts to the stimulus, which include some BIG (50-100 percent) education cuts along with cuts to the other agencies.  Check it out.  No doubt, the stimulus is going to get cut down if it's going to pass.  Even without wanting Republican votes it would need some cuts.  Question is whether education is taking more than its fair share of trims.  And which programs are getting trimmed -- the bailout ones or the reformy ones. 

The White House has been putting Arne out in the media so much this past couple of weeks, I hope he's had time to get some budget work done and figure out how to get into the game.  Right now, it feels like there's more education firepower in place at the White House (Gordon, Higginbottom, et al) than there is in Arne's office (Cunningham, Whalen, Ali, Martin).  

STIMULUS: Saving Teachers' Jobs...Or More Booze For Alcoholics?

“This is going to avert literally hundreds of thousands of teacher layoffs,” Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Tuesday.

“It’s like an alcoholic at the end of the night when the bars close, and the solution is to open the bar for another hour,” [Rick] Hess said.

Stimulus Plan Would Provide Flood of Aid to Education NYT

FAMOUS LAST WORDS: "There Will Be No Big Bailout For Schools."

"There will be no big bailout for schools."

Words I wrote in the January 2009 issue of Scholastic Administrator, pontificating about what -- before Christmas -- seemed an unlikely course of events.

HILL: Could Card Check Legislation Affect Charter Schools?

Labor is pushing hard to make it easier for non-union workplaces to organize (The top lobbying fights to expect). 

Could this affect charter school teachers who might be interested in collective bargaining, or the unions who might be interested in organizing a small but growing sector of workers?

No idea.

FUNDING: Education Spending As An Investment

"We will find the money to do this because we can't afford not to."

Paul Tough (left), quoting Barack Obama, in the latest issue of Mother Jones (Harlem's Man With the Plan).

There's also an article in the Balto. City Paper about that town's interest in starting its own Children's Zone.

HILL: The Chairman Claps Alone

Check out this giant panorama pic of the swearing in, which you can use to pan around or zoom in (sort of like Google Earth or Streetview).  No sign of Duncan that I can find, but maybe you can do better at finding some education names in the crowd.  They've s gotta be there somewhere.  Or maybe there's a seating chart you can show us. 

Meantime, here's a screen shot of Chairman Miller applauding during the Obama speech.  I think Justice Thomas is taking a nap. 

HELP COMMITTEE: People-Watching During The Duncan Confirmation

The best part of pretty much any Washington event is watching the people who are behind the people who are talking.  Click below to see some screen grabs of Arne Duncan's confirmation hearing (and my lame captions). Or, watch the thing yourself and do your own: Video here.

STIMULUS: Big Money For School Districts On The Table

There is an awful lot of money for schools in the stimulus package being voted on this week -- roughly $142B out of the $825B total.  The addition of $13B will roughly double the current Title I funding levels -- a bigger increase than in the first years after NCLB was authorized. 

Looking at those numbers you'd think education was a big deal or was connected to economic recovery.  Or maybe the education groups are much better at lobbying than I knew.

Jim Kohlmoos at the Knowledge Alliance points us to this helpful CRS report for estimates of the amount of education funding each school district will receive.  Just as an example, Chicago public schools will receive an $527M increase in the first year alone. 

Stimulus: School money will be hard to cut later

What’s inside the stimulus package for education?

Schools eye their slice of stimulus pie

HOUSE: Fudge Joins House Education Committee [Unsalted]

Finally, we have an official list of House Democrats who are (forced to be) on the education committee, including Marcia Fudge from Ohio.  Congrats, condolences.  Pictured left:  Fran's chocolate covered caramels with smoked salt, an Obama favorite.  See presser for full details below.

CONFIRMATION: An Easy Day For Duncan

Duncan: Smart Is Cooler Than Ever New York Time
Arne Duncan, the Chicago schools chief, told the Senate on Tuesday that he would work for “real and meaningful change” in the nation’s schools..

Duncan Receives Wide Support at Confirmation Hearing Washington Post Chicago schools chief Arne Duncan received a warm reception today from Republicans and Democrats during his Senate confirmation hearing to be ... Obama Picks Pledge Broad Policy Changes NPR Education Secretary-designate Arne Duncan pledged to overhaul President Bush's No Child Left Behind initiative, which has been criticized by some for ...

Obama's Education nominee cruises Politico

With Republican friends like these, Arne Duncan should have no problem selling Barack Obama’s education ...

Senate hearing Tuesday spotlights school reform The Associated Press
Barack Obama's choice for education secretary, Arne Duncan, said Tuesday that the No Child Left Behind law should stop punishing schools ...

HILL: Watch The Duncan Hearing Live Online

Watch the Duncan hearing from your desktop by clicking here.  Seems like a warm and fuzzy love-fest so far.  Man, Senators are weird dudes. Bored? Play Boring Hearing Bingo. Name the lobbyists and staffers on camera behind Duncan or the Committee members.

HOUSE: New Members Of Education Committee

Congrats and condolences to the newly-elected Republican members joining the committee: Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA), Rep. Duncan D. Hunter (R-CA), and Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN). Two departing members – Reps. Charles Boustany (R-LA) and Kenny Marchant (R-TX). 

No official word yet on the Dem. changes yet -- that I've seen. Though usually reliable sources at the Knowledge Alliance say that new Dems include Marcia Fudge (OH), Jared Polis (CO), Paul Tonko (NY), and Pedro Pierluisi (PR). Leaving the Committee are: John Yarmuth (D-KY), Danny Davis (D-IL) Linda Sanchez (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD) GOP: Brett Guthrie (KY), Bill Cassidy (LA), Tom McClintock (CA), Duncan Hunter (CA), and Phil Roe (TN).

DUNCAN WATCH: Unsolicited Questions For The Senate Hearing

The cappuccino story doesn't seem to have much legs when it comes to derailing the Duncan appointment, though some have noted the lackluster coverage in Chicago (ChiTrib Leaves Out Duncan Mention) and the mini-scandal could have implications for the CPS officials who work on high school and voc ed programs (Gilligan, et al) -- some of whom may have wanted to rise within CPS or move to DC with Duncan.

Meanwhile, I hear that various outlets are gearing up for publishing bigger stories on Monday or Tues. And Senate staffers are working on questions for their bosses on the HELP committee. 

Some suggestions that are sure not to be taken up:

- Dr. -- I mean, Mr. -- Duncan, did you brew that cup of coffee in front of you on one of those pricey cappuccino makers, or did you have an intern buy it downstairs like the rest of us?

- Is it true that you going to make us all look bad by sending your children to public school, or will you reconsider and do the right thing and choose Georgetown or Sidwell?

- What about the issue of your recusing yourself during discussions of NCLB, given given how much you hate and undercut the law in Chicago? Do you think that's really workable?

-Or, what about Congress adopting Chicago's homegrown and less rigorous accountability and school rating system and getting rid of those cut scores and subgroup requirements in NCLB? 

Other questions the committee should ask?  You've got five minutes.

ON THE HILL: The Risks Of Becoming Lieberman

"To declare that the only test of a politician's commitment to reform is a willingness to break with unions creates a no-win choice for Democrats," writes EJ Dionne of the Washington Post (It's about education, not teacher unions). "They must either betray long-standing allies or face condemnation as the captives of special interests."

If this is the case -- I'm not sure I buy it entirely -- then reformy Democrats are putting a lot more pressure on their own party than the weakened Republicans have, potentially creating serious divisions within the part the likes of which we have not yet seen. 

They do this in the hope of pushing for accelerated reform efforts. But if they fail to win allies and show quick successes, they run the risk of having ostracized themselves from the core of their party.  And that's not a fun (or effective) spot to be in.  Just ask Joe Lieberman.

In reality, of course, few elected politicians have gone out as far on the reformy limb as Lieberman went on the war and other issues. Chatty and media-savvy as they may be, most of the reformy types are think tankers or nonprofiteers or (in the case of Duncan and Rhee and Klein) mayoral appointees. Comfy.  Safe. 

So first the reformistas need a Lieberman, and then they need to him not to pull a Lieberman. It doesn't seem likely that Bennet will be their man, though they'll be eager to cast him in that role. 

SENATE: Jan. 13 Hearing For Duncan

Arne Duncan will get his confirmation hearing January 13 in front of the Senate HELP Committee, according to the Boston Globe (Kennedy sets confirmation hearings).  Maybe they'll ask him some tough questions.  Probably not.