charterize and de-unionize you'll need to read the different reports about it,
and even after these three different reports we aren't even close to the whole
story. The three reports I found are:
Southwest Minneapolis Patch
http://southwestminneapolis.patch.com/articles/superintendent-announces-priorities-to-reshape-minneapolis-schools
TC Daily Planet
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2013/05/13/superintendent-johnson-plans-implement-autonomous-zones-modeled-after-charters-20-30
and, my favorite on this, so far, MPR news
http://origin-minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/13/education/minneapolis-schools-improvement-proposal
I didn't see anything in the Startribune about it ??
The details of Johnson's plan are sketchy at best, but it sounds like she's
planning on turning a bunch of MPS schools into charter schools. What that
actually means is not clear, but the implication is that Johnson doesn't want
the new MPS charters to be bothered with a union contract or any other specific
expectations. She alludes to some new accountability and partnerships with
business, but what's new about that? I thought Carol Johnson's partnership
with business is what got us David Jennings, and accountability has been a term
attached to just about everything as long as I can remember.
The justification for this new plan is provided by supporters of other charters
like board member Monserrate and Eli Kramer.
Boston and Denver are mentioned as places where similar efforts have been
attempted. Thanks go to Tim Post for taking the journalistic step of checking
how that's worked. He writes, "In 2008, Colorado passed a law that allowed
schools to receive autonomy from their districts. So far, two dozen schools
have joined the effort, mostly in Denver. A report last year showed little had
changed in those schools other than some budget and calendar decisions. The
report also showed that while some schools showed improvement in reading and
math, overall most schools did not consistently show enough growth to meet
state goals for student achievement. "
Sounds like about all we can really expect is no more union or a much weakened
one. One can't help but wonder it that isn't the real goal. No mention in the
plan is made about changes in actual teaching and learning techniques. Finance
and governance changes in schools, which is what Johnson is talking about,
don't necessarily make things better. I'd like to see the MPS focus on good
teaching and learning; maybe they could start actually using the literacy tools
that are reshaping the industries that provide Kramer and Monserrate the money
to support charters.