Hate NCLB? Turn Down the Money
* The New York Times editorial board calls the dismissal of NEA’s No Child Left Behind Act lawsuit “A Victory for Education.” The lawsuits will continue because states, districts and unions won’t consider the one option that would free them from all NCLB mandates: Turning down Title I money.
If the mandates are so intrusive AND costing states and local districts billions of dollars, then they should just opt out. Three states had no qualms about doing so when the issue was abstinence education.
* The Los Angeles Daily News wallops the Los Angeles Unified School District for planning a PR campaign while the mayor plans to take over the district (see yesterday’s Quote of the Week).
* Something to watch closely in Michigan: school districts forming a regional insurance pool to lower health care costs. More than half of the state’s districts are currently covered by MESSA, which is the insurance arm of the Michigan Education Association, which negotiates the contracts that get MESSA selected as the insurance provider (neat, huh?).
Republican lawmakers want to break up this cozy little nest and they have some unusual allies: other unions. They evidently want more choice in the marketplace!
“If MESSA provides a quality product at a competitive price, MESSA will be alive and well,” said David Hecker, president of AFT Michigan.
These businesses think so, too. The concept works with a lot of things.
