Jonathon Alter has an article, Peanut-Butter Politics - Education funding is a sticky issue, in this week's Newsweek about the importance of Sec. Duncan's Race to the Top Fund. This fund would offer money to states that have a successful track record in improving student achievement.
Cut to 2009, when Barack Obama thinks education is the most exciting of subjects. Even so, Obama and his education secretary, Arne Duncan, get Barzun. They understand that the key to fixing education is better teaching, and the key to better teaching is figuring out who can teach and who can't.There are difficulties in implementing the program and Mr. Alter identifies some. The entire article is worth your attention.
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Like Obama and Duncan, Rep. George Miller, the leading reformer in Congress, wants the money to be targeted on just a few programs with track records in turning around poorly performing schools and training teachers better. He rightly figures we know what works now and should just go ahead and fund it.
