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Five months ago we announced the official launch of 50CAN: The 50-State Campaign for Achievement Now.
Now leaders in our first four states of New York, Maryland, Rhode Island and Minnesota are off and running with policy campaigns that will change the way public education works in their states so that it works better for all kids.
NYCAN: The Empire State Strikes Back
(www.EmpireStateStrikesBack.org)
- Equip parents with a trigger: Allow moms and dads to “take over” persistently failing schools.
- Recruit teaching talent into the Empire State: Improve interstate teacher certification reciprocity.
- Start college early, finish college strong: Establish state support for early college high schools.
MarylandCAN: Bridge the Gaps
(www.BridgeMarylandGaps.org)
- Jumpstart public charter school innovation: Overhaul Maryland’s charter school law.
- Fund quality pre-K for all: Expand preschool to all Maryland four-year-olds.
- Champion parental involvement: Allow parents to attend school meetings without penalty from employers.
RI-CAN: The Rising Tide
(www.RisingTideRI.org)
- Put Achievement First: RI-CAN celebrated an early campaign victory when the Board of Regents voted to bring the Achievement First charter school management organization to Providence.
- Prize talented teachers: Reform Rhode Island’s staffing policies.
- Success Schools: Remove obstacles to implementing proven strategies in our schools.
MinnCAN: The Playbook for Education in Minnesota
(www.MinnesotaPlaybook.org)
- Prize first-string teachers: Reward effective teachers and end seniority-based layoffs.
- Scout Minnesota MVPs (Most Valuable Principals): Enact principal evaluations.
- Launch the achievement power play: Expand schools that are working, close those that aren’t and improve those in between.
At the end of this campaign season, I will be reporting back on how we did and what’s next for reform in these four states and those to come. But a lot will happen between now and then. For the latest dispatches from the front lines, be sure to add GreatBigBlog to your RSS feed, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Working together we can change America for the better by ensuring every child has access to a great public school. Because great schools change everything.