Commitment to Public Education Trumps National “Education Reform” Movement in Connecticut

May 08

jonpeltoAchievement First/ConnCAN, Charter Schools, Education Reform, Malloy, Michelle Rhee, Stefan Pryor Charter Schools, Education Reform, Malloy, Stefan Pryor 43 Comments

The Connecticut State Senate passed an “education reform” bill early today. The State House will soon follow.

As the dust settles over the coming days we’ll explore some of the details and the remaining issues that must still be addressed, but the people who worked so hard to protect Connecticut’s children, schools and educational system from the national privatization effort, should be very proud of themselves and Connecticut’s Democratic legislators.

You’ll hear the “reformers” crow about their victories – and until the bill is passed and signed – we’ll let them do their thing unchallenged, but rest assured their quotes in today’s media reports are about as accurate as their statements have been over the past few months. Telling the truth is not one of their strong points.

The “compromise” includes some elements that shouldn’t be here. Malloy’s Commissioner of Education is still granted way too much power – especially for someone who faces such a pronounced conflict of interest. And why legislators gave in to Malloy’s demand for even more standardized tests is a true mystery considering that between Connecticut’s Mastery Tests and the No Child Left Unbothered Act, teaching to the test is already one of the primary aspects of Connecticut’s education program. Mastery Tests take place every year and they now want to add even more – idiots!

But the bottom line, Michelle Rhee, Achievement First and ConnCAN elitists who will have spent upwards of $2 million on their lobby effort to sweep in and take over Connecticut’s education system, with the help of Governor Malloy, have failed.

And now a number of these groups will face investigations and potential penalties for their illegal lobbying activities.

Stay tuned for more coverage.

Here is the latest CTNewsjunkie piece: http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/education_reform_passes_senate_early_tuesday_morning/

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guest

Thanks for the updates, but I think that in some respects the charters have gotten too much. They are going to have a disproportionate amount of money in poorer districts, and the rest of the children will suffer.
Malloy pushed an anti-teacher, anti-public school, pro-charter version of the bill, knowing that he would drive a wedge into public educatin once and for all. Now that it’s there, everyone is going to accept charters as part of the landscape. We may see a two- and three-tier system, with “low performing” schools falling farther and farther behind, while a lucky few get into more “effective” schools–but those schools may be militaristic, segregated, and mind-numbingly regimented, with a focus on standardized tests.
We will need to remain vigilant to make sure this does not happen.
Guest

Jon,

I completely disagree with your comment. From what I understand and heard most of Malloy’s measures were accepted by the Senate. I am angered by the measure that teacher tenure and raises will be tied into evaluation. If this is the case and is in fact true, then the Democratic party has turned their backs on their base.

I’m wondering if DNC had anything to do with this since reform has been Obama’s pet pig for quite some time. Simply put the Democrats have been ignoring their base nationaly and pushing through measures that are anti-democratic and they don’t care. Why? Because we continue to vote for them because they’re democrats and there is no one else to vote for.
- savage
  
  I’m not so sure everything is as peachy as you’re suggesting either, Jon. While I haven’t see the actual bill, the language that I HAVE seen sounded vague enough that the legislators could be making it appear as though the “reformers” have lost to placate the opposition, while at the same time leaving themselves loopholes big enough to drive home many of the reformers’ wants. I guess we’ll have to wait until more info becomes available, but for now I’m not feeling quite as optimistic as you seem to be feeling.
  - jonpelto
    
    Its all relative and you are right – devil in details but there were counting on owning 25 schools – now they have access to no more than 6. Collective bargaining protected in network schools.
    No national harter is going to take on the collective bargaining process – the can fool a lot of people but they don’t have the ability to sit across from a union that actually knows the law.
    The extra money for charters now allows ewvery town to stop all local payments. They said they wanted more money – hartford was paying them a lot – hartford now has an obligation to withdraw that support. Why should local taxpayers being giving these schools money when the state agreed. Furthermore these charters made a promise to stop outmigrating kids – they won’t and now we’ll hold them accountable.
    No its far from perfect but no state has stood up to these thugs and done as well.
    
    Sent from my BlackBerry please excuss typos
  - savage
    
    “No state has stood up to these thugs and done as well.”
    
    Is this true? I’m not challenging you, just want to be certain. If this is, in fact, true, then that does put the “compromise” in a better light.
  - jonpelto
    
    When I get to a computer I’ll do up a summary. But they had the governor in their picket and have little to show for it
    Sent from my BlackBerry please excuss typos
  - guest
    
    I think Washington state has stood up pretty well, at least according to a post I read on Valerie Strauss’s the Answer Sheet. I will try to link it later. In Washington, at least, they have said no to charter schools so far, and they pretty much kicked Teach for America out after a few months.
    So, Connecticut–there’s the bar! Exceed it!
  - guest
    
    Here’s the link:
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/a-state-that-just-says-no-to-charters-other-reforms/2012/05/02/gIQAJCXvxT_blog.html
  - jschmidt2
    
    Indiana- got rid of the requirement forcing teachers to use the union health system and saved a bundle of money. The govs challenger saved a ton of money as Milwaukee Mayor with the govs handling of this union healthcare.
  - jschmidt2
    
    sorry Wisconson
sharewhut

Jon,
How about offering a prize to whoever finds Adam OW!!! ski’s pension language in tiny print buried in this sham…. Or is it Adam OWE ski?
- guest
  
  Yes, we need to keep track of this, the consultants, and the SERC.
jonpelto

Those of you who have commented and weighed in have done a remarkable job. Together we did a good job getting the truth out to people. We didn’t change every element of the bill but with the help of some legislators real changes were made.

If there was ever a lessen about the need to take back our government – this was it – Democrats or Republicans, liberals or conservatives actually had more in common with each other than with the incumbent party – many of them were perfectly welling to sellout the children of our sate.

This is only the first step. 2012 and 2014 can usher in a new era and which we will work together for a better Connecticut.
jonpelto

Wow! Is that malloy guy talented or what.

Sent from my BlackBerry please excuss typos
savage

Just take a look at the photo of Stefan Pryor that ran with the Ctnewsjunkie article. He and whoever that woman is next to him look pretty smug and happy to me. I really don’t feel as optimistic about this as you seem to be feeling, Jon.
- jonpelto
  
  Let’s see how smug they are when they have pay some lobby fines.
  
  Sent from my BlackBerry please excuss typos
  - guest
    
    If these are like most fines against the corporate giants, they will be miniscule compared to the profits that await them….
  - Guest
    
    They will not do a darn thing and we all know it.
Matthew Valenti

First the governor slapped the teachers across the face, now the dems have slapped the other side. I suggest the unions find out who voted for this, who championed it, and put every one out of their job come election time. We are 45,000 strong but we also have families who vote. Malloy won with 7000 votes, so we can get him out. As to the others, we can make a huge impact. No more endorsing candidates who will turn their back on us.
- savage
  
  I don’t know how all of this party stuff works–but wouldn’t it behoove the Democrats to start working NOW to identify a viable candidate to run INSTEAD of Dan Malloy in 2014? Run Malloy and you’ll get a Republican back in office.
  - jschmidt2
    
    and that would be ok with me.
  - savage
    
    A republican would be just as bad, probably much, much worse. We need a middle ground–someone willing to protect the rights of the middle class, including union workers, while at the same time having the balls to stand up to the military-industrial complex and other corporate profiteers. Someone who has not been bought and paid for by either side. Get the union management out of the picture. Get the influence of Broad, Gates, the Waltons et al out of the picture. We need someone who is not a lawyer, with no ties to Yale, no ties to higher education, no ties to Cigna, WalMart, Microsoft, Hearst or any other huge conglomerate. We need corporate influence out of our media and our legislature. We need representation that has not been brainwashed by corporate influence and the “nothing matters but the bottom line” mentality. I’ve had it. Enough!
  - TMS
    
    I don’t think it matters which party takes office as Governor as long as there is a balance of power in the state legislature. When it is so one-sided as it is now and has been, you have either a Governor who may have some great ideas, but will automatically be shot down because of the ruling party in the legislature (possibley the case with Rell), or you get a Governor who knows he will have everything rubber-stamped because his party is in control. This is where the abuse of power happens in my opinion. At least if each party knew they needed votes from the other side of the aisle to get bills passed, then there may be more discussion and give and take so a reasonable and fair outcome could possibly be reached. I’m and independent so have no problem with voting for someone frome either party as long as I know their where they stand on the important issues.
  - TMS
    
    Sorry for the typos.
  - sharewhut
    
    ditto.
    and in CT necessary to have the checks to balance this kinda cesspool politics.
JM

That would be a statement.
Magister

I’m not so optimistic about this. Although the extent of the original bill is reduced, the basic tenets are still there, allowing the “venture philanthropists” and “knowledge industry” plutocrats to wedge their way in and establish a beachead for their invasion.
- savage
  
  Pretty much my feeling too. Look forward to seeing Jon’s summary re CT having successfully fought off the vultures better than any other state. That would be a positive, but would it be good enough? We needed a DECISIVE win in this battle as a platform going forward in the long, tough war ahead. I don’t think this bill is decisive enough. Could have been worse, for sure. WAY worse. But it could have been better as well.
CTVeteran

This doesnt feel like a win. Negotiations in the past 12+ years havent been about winning its been about not losing ground. There were no gains made this session. There was ground loss, it just wasnt as much as the privateers would have wanted.

This whole process is disgusting and it doesnt need to be. If Malloy cared about education he would dismiss or even call out the groups like ConnCan and people like Rhee and tell them thanks but no thanks, you arent good for education.

How are we spending money we dont have? Who, When and how are the Charter schools we have going to be held accountable for who they arent teaching? When more money doesnt solve the problems is there a politician in the stat that has the courage to say its poverty, homelife and culture, not teachers?

Education, Teachers and most important, children, lost. They just didnt lose as much as they could have.

Sad day in CT.
- IUforever
  
  in another four years will be getting apologies by politicians about this reform, just like all the politician’s are doing now with no child left behind….
  - jonpelto
    
    I’m printing this one off – and saving it – you are so so so right.
    
    The apologies for the No child left unbothered vote!
    
    Sent from my BlackBerry please excuss typos
CT Dad

The campaign to turn our education system upside down in the name of “reform” and “the kids”?

It was ludicrous –
and false.
jonpelto

Why didn’t Malloy propose fixing the ECS formula?

The problem is poverty and language barriers. Why didn’t Malloy focus the funds on training and expanding instructional assistants in classrooms to give students the focused help they aren’t getting enough of in poor households. IAs are used to provide special ed kids with one on one – why not provide sufficient IAs to really give kids the help they need. We pay IAs with college degrees with up to $10 an hour in many districts.
When they talk about alternative route to certification or making college training programs better why say a 3.3 gpa is critical and not say if you come in or develop bilingual skills we will give you more money.
Why do we take 3rd and 4th graders who don’t speak english and teach them math and science in English and then test them in english and watch them fail when the evidence is so clear that if we teach them in Spanish, test them in Spanish and them train them how to do math and science in english that works.
Why are we now adding two more sets of standardized tests – we know poverty and language are the predictors – more tests won’t change that.
Why when the system works perfectly in simsbury and avon did we propose a tenure and evaluation system that treats ecvery teacher the same without regard to what the challenges are.
Who is the better teacher the one who takes their surbuban 4th grade math class from 82% to 84% or the 4th grade urban class from 23% to 29%
Ever single one of those issues has been discussed and proven to be effective – malloy didn’t champion one.
Good all those groups spend their time lobbying but the governs job is to lead.
CEA and AfT – put out ideas but it isn’t their jon – that is why we have a governor and legislature.
You’ve really bought into this notion the the governor deserves credit for at leasr having a plan. But that is his job and he proposed a bad plan.
Sent from my BlackBerry please excuss typos
jschmidt2

When you have one party rule in this state, something like this is easy to happen.
Guest

Go back to Pennsylvania. Carpet baggers need not apply here.
- Linda174
  
  not sure it is worth commenting to him…like Rick Green…already made up his mind, not willing to learn or process new information..just wants to argue. I don’t have the time or energy.
CTVeteran

Mr. Jones, should the CEA come up with reform plans to combat Poverty, Culture and Parenting? Their job is to protect the rights of the teachers who happen to also be parents and taxpayers.

Reform needs to be done at local levels by parents, teachers, administrators and local leaders. Not by CEA, and certainly not by political figures and groups that have zero classroom experience (ie ConnCan’t)

You are 100% right thought, you are not in the know. Teach for a year then come back and give us your opinion.
Linda174

Very short lunch and will read everything later, but check out these two links:
One is the OLR analysis and one is the full bill (final, I think):

I need time to read and digest before I comment…some of the language looks vague and nebulous to me…..maybe the way Pryor wants it to be, not sure yet.

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2012/BA/2012SB-00458-R00-BA.htm

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2012/TOB/S/2012SB-00458-R00-SB.htm–
TMS

Steven _

“Never once did I see a clear, detailed plan of what they believed education reform should be, only what it ‘shouldn’t be’, and that Malloy was wrong on everything. Many on the opposition said no reform was better than a ‘bad’ reform (whatever that means).”

I’d like to know what’s not clear about no reform is better than bad reform. “Bad Reform”, as the Governor proposed did more harm than good and had very little to do with improving what goes on in the classroom. It was a very expensive shell game to place taxpayer’s money in the hands of his little Klan.

Jon outlines very clearly changes suggested by “Parents Across America”, CEA and other groups, but it’s not anyone’s fault that you choose not to do any research of your own. If you really followed this blog you would see that “Linda174″, “Savage” and “guests” (just to name a few), provided links to supplemental information. All you had to do was click and read. Yes, there are times when change is more harmful than the status quo. No one, and I mean no one, on this blog ever said change was not needed, infact, it was quite the opposite, but much of what the Governor proposed was not the right change by pretty much all data and reports. We only have one shot with our kids, we can’t go back after damage has been done and say, “Oops, sorry, my bad. Our proposed reform didn’t work.” Maybe you are willing for your kids to be the guinea pigs for the “let’s just try it and see what happens” reformers, but why should anyone else be forced to do it.
jonpelto

I’ll ask

Sent from my BlackBerry please excuss typos
IUforever

The problem Steven isn’t Malloy..well maybe it is. Malloy is following this reform policy set up by Arne Duncan and his allegience to the likes of the Broad and Bill Gates foundation. Both foundations are fond of this teaching and accountability by test philosophy in additiion to privitizing education…
- jonpelto
  
  Good points
  
  Sent from my BlackBerry please excuss typos
sharewhut

Malfoy has ’til 2014.
Statement should start with with the kneesitators this fall.
But they’ll get same day fraudistration in to make sure they can get their supporters to the polls at least once…

Wait, What?