Federal Money, Teachers' Unions and Education Reform
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The Obama Administration's inviting the states to "Race to the Top" by competing for $4.3 billion in stimulus money. Is that enough to get teachers unions to change their minds on charter schools, merit pay or standardized tests to evaluate teacher performance? Also, Blue Dog Democrats and the House leadership reach a deal on healthcare. On Reporter's Notebook, Yahoo and Microsoft have struck a deal. Can they make a dent in Google's dominance of the market for Internet searching?
Banner image: Students work together in teacher Daisy Moran's second-grade bilingual class in Chicago, Illinois. Photo: Tim Boyle/Getty Images
Making News
Blue Dog Democrats, House Leadership Reach Deal on Healthcare ()
As President Obama held another "town hall" meeting on healthcare reform, this one in North Carolina with another planned in Virginia, rebellious House Democrats say they're reached an agreement with their own leadership and with the White House. Jeffrey Young covers healthcare issues for The Hill, the Congressional newspaper.
Guests:
- Jeffrey Young: Healthcare Reporter, The Hill, @jeffreyyoung_hc
Main Topic
Federal Money, Teachers' Unions and Education Reform ()
President Obama is dangling $4.3 billion in stimulus money to promote charter schools, merit pay and standardized tests for evaluating teachers. He says states with laws against such evaluations won't get any money, which rules out New York and California. Even in other states, Education Secretary Arne Duncan could be up against opposition from teachers' unions, a major force in the Democratic Party. Will the prospect of all that money turn the unions around? What's the future of what the President calls "Race to the Top?"
Guests:
- Michele McNeil: Assistant Editor, Education Week
- Marilyn Stewart: President, Chicago Teachers' Union
- Elizabeth Purvis: Executive Director, Chicago International Charter School
- Arthur Rothkopf: Senior Vice-President, US Chamber of Commerce
- Audrey Soglin: Director of the Center for Education Innovation, Illinois Education Association
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Reporter's Notebook
Microsoft and Yahoo Strike Deal ()
Last year, Microsoft made a hostile bid to buy Yahoo for $48 billion. That didn't work, but today the two agreed to a partnership. It could be good for both companies, but the primary target appears to be Google. While the colossus of Internet searching and its dominance will likely continue, today's deal is designed to slow Google down. Todd Bishop is managing editor of TechFlash.com.
Guests:
- Todd Bishop: Co-founder and Managing Editor, TechFlash
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