For kids' sake, teachers union can't be the arbiter of school reform

By David C. Olson

Anyone concerned about Minnesota's alarming student achievement gap should challenge Education Minnesota's advertising propaganda that 'Kids Come First.' Witness the rejection of this state's application for Race to the Top federal grants. Minnesota lost an opportunity for up to $330 million for the state's K-12 public education system under a federal initiative spearheaded by President Obama.

Earlier this month federal officials released the critique of Minnesota's application. The state finished 20th. Federal reviewers stated that Minnesota's application was missing vital reforms, including linking teacher evaluations in part to student performance and alternative pathways for teacher licensure. Also cited was the lack of support of Education Minnesota and most local teachers unions.

The response from Education Minnesota President Tom Dooher? It's "unfortunate" the state's application "missed the mark by such a wide margin." He and the union hierarchy continue to blame the Pawlenty administration for a poor application, and they continue to oppose education reforms that are proven effective and being adopted nationwide. Reforms not only improve student achievement, but also increase these states' chances at receiving the grant in Round 2.

Dooher said he welcomes "any criticism we get from any source on why we didn't sign on, because we know practitioners have the best answers, not bureaucrats in St. Paul or Washington, D.C." In all candor, the state's disconcerting academic achievement gap suggests otherwise.

And what about other state teachers unions? Unions in the two winners, Tennessee and Delaware, had a different perspective. Tennessee, awarded $400 million, had 93-percent support from local unions and a strong letter of support from the statewide organization. Delaware, awarded $100 million, had 100-percent union support.

Minnesota, on the other hand, had 12 percent of local unions' support, including Minneapolis and St. Paul. Their endorsement unfortunately fell on deaf ears among the union's statewide decision-makers.

Minnesota's application had the support of 300 school districts and 116 charter schools, representing more than 93 percent of students in the state. Is it really the teachers union that knows best, or the 100 percent of superintendents, 84 percent of school boards and school districts?

The Race to the Top application was not perfect. We'd have preferred greater participation from the customers - especially employers. More attention could have been given to results and less on processes. That said, it's disingenuous for Education Minnesota to roll out media campaigns claiming that it's "for the kids" - then oppose proven educational initiatives.

Education reforms are important to the statewide business community. World-class workers are required to compete in today's rapidly changing and global economy. Minnesota has one of the nation's largest achievement gaps between advantaged and disadvantaged students; the disparity is especially glaring in Minneapolis and St. Paul. That's why the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is lobbying for state legislation that allows alternative teacher licensure and supports a bill that includes the proven education reforms needed for Minnesota's Race to the Top application.

Many of these reforms are not new conversations at the Capitol. A coalition - including Minneapolis and St. Paul school administrations - advanced an alternative-pathways-for-teachers measure in 2009. The bill had bipartisan support among lawmakers. In the end, though, Education Minnesota killed it. Union leadership is opposing the measure this year, too, despite the bipartisan support. In fact, a chief author of one of the bills is Rep. Linda Slocum, DFL-Richfield, a teacher herself.

Minnesota is missing key opportunities to place more of the best and brightest teaching candidates in the classrooms. At present, the highest-performing teaching programs for under-served students - programs like Teach for America that have shown remarkable success in other parts of the country - have no permanent status in Minnesota.

Contrary to the claims of Education Minnesota, alternative licensure neither takes away jobs from current teachers nor takes away local control. The additional options simply enhance the pool of quality candidates and will bolster the collective efforts of the rank-and-file teaching corps.

We respect Education Minnesota's efforts to protect the interests of its members. That's why unions exist. But Minnesotans should be outraged that union leadership continually blocks efforts to improve student achievement and specifically blocked a chance for millions of federal dollars for our public schools.

It's time that the entire education community stands four-square behind Minnesota's children. Race to the Top or not, we should be adopting proven reform that will boost achievement. Minnesota's dismal gaps in student achievement are among the worst in the nation. Minnesotans no longer can allow Education Minnesota to be the gatekeeper for education reform.

David Olson is president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.