New York reform efforts stuck in the mud without union cooperation

By Steve Gunn
EAGnews.org
????
NEW YORK?? The New York state Department of Education says there are 221 poorly performing schools in the state that must drastically improve within the next three years or risk being shut down.
?
More than half of those schools ? 123 ? are located in New York City.
?
The schools have until the end of September to explain to the state how they plan to improve and avoid closure. Meanwhile, New York City officials must implement a new teacher evaluation system by January or risk losing some state education funding.
?
Wait a minute ? haven?t we heard this news before?
?
Wasn?t is just last spring that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg ?identified dozens of failing schools as ?turnaround? targets, and announced plans to replace many staff members and give students a fresh start?
?
But the United Federation of Teachers went to court to block the effort, and a friendly judge sided with them. As a result students are headed to the same old failing schools this fall.
?
Hasn?t the Bloomberg administration been trying since last year to try to design a meaningful teacher evaluation system that will purge poor instructors from the classroom and improve education for all city students?
?
Unfortunately the United Federation of Teachers has consistently refused to sign on to a new evaluation system, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo has ruled that union approval is necessary. That means the January deadline could come and go without any new system in place.
?
New York parents and taxpayers need to open their eyes. Many of their elected officials have been trying to address public education problems for several years, but the radical and self-serving UTF keeps blocking their efforts.
?
It seems the union won?t cooperate with any plan that demands more accountability from teachers. UFT leaders either believe all of their members are doing just fine, or they really don?t care how they?re doing in the classroom, as long as they pay their dues on time.
?
Real education reform will not come to New York City unless the unions are left on the sidelines and responsible adults are allowed to make the decisions.

Tags: Bloomberg administration, failing schools, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New York City, New York parents, New York state Department of Education, poorly performing schools, taxpayer, United Federation of Teachers, UTF

Posted on: August 31st, 2012 by Jason

Source: http://eagnews.org/new-york-reform-efforts-stuck-in-the-mud-without-union-cooperation/

photos doomsday clock nate robinson sharia law sharia law new hampshire primary results ron paul