July 1, 2009 Dear Luke, The nation's largest teachers union is convening for its annual convention in San Diego. This is the first major confab of the National Education Association (NEA) since the new president took over, since performance pay and other reforms became bi-partisan issues and since the union brass started getting funds from major foundations for their new so-called 'reform-minded' efforts. Is it real or is it smoke and mirrors - again? As you read coverage of the conference and about the NEA in papers this week, you might ask yourself whether the NEA's (or AFT's) role is any different post-NCLB and school choice than it was twenty-five years ago when A Nation at Risk woke us all up to lagging student achievement that has only modestly improved to this day. Exactly how does the union contract help students learn? Though Education Secretary Arne Duncan discussed performance pay in his address to the teacher delegates gathered yesterday, he was cautious about upsetting them, and more inclusive than probably their positions warrant in having them as a partner to fix America's schools. Why do we say this? National: In Washington, the NEA has deluged Senators with calls, letters and visits, demanding that they oppose a tiny scholarship program for the District of Columbia's poorest children, one that can save them from failing schools. And yet they call this $14 million program the "death-knell" of public education, while most DC students attend failing schools... In the States: Some consider it hypocritical that while the Indiana NEA affiliate, for example, demands accountability and fought to defund charter schools there, it mismanaged its finances so much that it attempted to deny members long-term disability payments... Locally: The NEA undermines reform efforts by writing provisions into contracts that make enforcement of federal and state law impossible. The Little Rock, AR union is negotiating a new contract that protects teachers who are displaced from failing schools, closed or reorganized under NCLB, by entitling them to positions as permanent substitutes, ensuring that their contract leaves no teacher behind. These and other examples of the disconnect between words and action are rampant. I invite you to tune in to our on coverage of the events to get the real scoop. http://twitter.com/edreform http://edspresso.com Happy 4th of July! Many thanks, Jonathan Oglesby Director of Public Relations # # # The Center for Education Reform drives the creation of better educational opportunities for all children. CER changes laws, minds and cultures to allow good schools to flourish. The Center for Education Reform 910 Seventeenth Street, NW, Suite 1120 • Washington, DC 20006 (tel) 800-520-2118 • 301-986-8088 • (fax) 301-986-1826 cer@edreform.com • www.edreform.com Related Links: Speaker Series Newsroom