Media: EdWeek's Balanced View Of Reform Advocacy

My biggest concern digging into EdWeek's big new package of stories about ed advocacy was that it might be lacking in context, ignoring the long history of unions and other stakeholders (and other movements) using much the same tactics as reformy democrats and their funders now employ.  But that doesn't seem to be a problem, from skimming the opening story.  

My second concern was that the package would make it seem like these new groups were somehow all-powerful, a juggernaut of wealth and power that cut down all opposition in its wake.  But that doesn't seem to be an issue, either.  The main story notes that this kind of advocacy is growing but has had mixed results so far. Advocacy is no guarantee of anything other than spending a lot of money.  

The only thing that I didn't see at first glance -- I have to complain about something -- was any sense of the diminished impact of advocates in the current legislative season, compared to last year's breakout year.  It's been a much tougher year for advocates in 2011-2012 than it was in 2010-2011, and it's not clear that advocates have made changes to the way they're operating (coordinating, reaching out, etc.) that they're going to need to make going forward if they hope to make further inroads.  Then again, only a quick read.  

Comments

[Sarah]

Too true on the notion that Ed Advocacy only really promises spending money, which is why it’s always amused me to see the profession demonized as it has been. As you said, they haven’t even been terribly successful so far this year.