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Washington Post--‘Betsy DeVos is the worst secretary of education ever’ — teachers union leaders come out swinging
The leaders of the two largest teachers unions in the country are coming out swinging after a Supreme Court ruling that dealt a blow to labor organizations’ ability to collect fees.
Even as conservative groups are waging a social media campaign to persuade teachers to drop out of their unions, the presidents of the National Education Association, the largest public union in the country, and the American Federation of Teachers delivered tough speeches this month at their annual conventions.
Valerie Strauss July 16 at 12:50 PM
Education Week--One-Third of Parents Fear for Their Child's Safety at School
After a year scarred by two mass shootings in high schools, 34 percent of parents fear for their child’s safety at school, a new poll finds, and just 27 percent are very confident or extremely confident about their school’s ability to deter a gunman.
Among a menu of safety proposals, parents are much more likely to favor armed police in schools and mental-health screenings than arming teachers and school staff.
Those findings come from an online poll of 515 parents of school-aged children commissioned by PDK International as part of a broader annual survey about American attitudes about education that is due out in August.
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/07/17/school-safety-parents-concerns.html
Evie Blad|July 17, 2018
Education Week--What Would a Merged Education and Labor Department Look Like?
Debates aside, what would go where?
President Donald Trump's proposal to scrap the U.S. Department of Education and merge it with the Department of Labor reflects the administration's priority on workforce readiness and career development. It is likely to require a heavy lift on Capitol Hill, if past proposals are any guide.
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/07/18/what-would-a-merged-education-and-labor.html
Alyson Klein| July 13, 2018
Associated Press (via Education Week)-- The Billionaires Pushing Charter School Expansion in States
Dollar for dollar, the beleaguered movement to bring charter schools to Washington state has had no bigger champion than billionaire Bill Gates.
The Microsoft co-founder gave millions of dollars to see a charter school law approved despite multiple failed ballot referendums. And his private foundation not only helped create the Washington State Charter Schools Association, but has at times contributed what amounts to an entire year's worth of revenues for the 5-year-old charter advocacy group.
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/07/16/ap-analysis-billionaires-fuel-powerful-state_ap.html
The Associated Press| July 16, 2018
