The Big Apple and Little Dougco

By Larry Sand
11/12/2013
Last week, the nation’s biggest city and a county in Colorado went in diametrically opposite education reform directions. On Election Day, there were several outcomes that affected how education will be conducted across the country. Perhaps the most dramatic took place in New York City and Douglas County, CO. In New York, after several years...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, Ben DeGrow, Bill de Blasio, Charter schools, Chester Finn, Education Next, Joel Klein, Joy Resmovits, Larry Sand, Marcus Winters, Michael Bloomberg, Randi Weingarten, Rick Hess

Teachers Unions and School Boards Must Disconnect

By Larry Sand
08/20/2013
Teachers unions’ goals are in direct conflict with those of school boards. Two powerful entities in public education have very different agendas. The teachers unions’ goal is to derive every benefit possible and to protect every last one of its dues paying members no matter how incompetent they are. School boards are governing bodies that...

TAGS: Ben DeGrow, collective bargaining, EAG, Larry Sand, Michael Bloomberg, Michelle Rhee, Rod Paige, school board, StudentsFirst, teachers union, Terry Moe

Outsiderophobia

By Larry Sand
03/12/2013
A mental disorder has come to California, but for the afflicted — mostly teacher union types — it manifests itself in a partisan way. Voters were not swayed by outsiders and their millions…The public wants Board members who will listen to the community—not be beholden to their billionaire benefactors. So harrumphed an indignant and self-righteous...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, Anthony Cody, Diane Ravitch, Larry Sand, Michael Bloomberg, Mike Antonucci, National Education Association, teachers union, United Teachers of Los Angeles, Warren Fletcher

School Board Wars

By Larry Sand
02/19/2013
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg donates $1 million to reform candidates in Los Angeles school board race. School boards are powerful entities. Within the confines of state law, they typically adopt budgets, collectively bargain with the local teachers union, monitor student achievement and pick the local school superintendent. In California, there are more than...

TAGS: Alexander Russo, American Federation of Teachers, California Teachers Association, Dennis Van Roekel, John Deasy, Joy Resmovits, Larry Sand, Michael Bloomberg, Mike Antonucci, Mike Petrilli, National Education Association, school board, teachers union, United Teachers of Los Angeles