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School Reform: Politics and the Movies
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School Reform: Politics and the Movies

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An advocate of the President's Race to the Top has lost her job in the City of Washington. What's the impact on school reform based on teacher accountability? Also, a dispiriting draw in the Nevada Senate debate.

Banner image: District of Columbia Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee pauses during a news conference October 13, 2010 at Mayflower Hotel in Washington, Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Making News

A Dispiriting Draw in Nevada Senate Debate ()

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada is one of the powerful Democrats in trouble for re-election. Last night's debate with Republican Sharron Angle was much anticipated. Among the issues debated was the stability of social security. Dan Balz writes about politics for the Washington Post.


 

Guests:
  • Dan Balz: National Political Correspondent, Washington Post

Main Topic

Does Rhee's Departure Signal End to Teacher-Centered Ed Reform? ()

As Chancellor of Washington, DC's notorious public schools, Michelle Rhee got national attention for closing 23 poor-performing schools and firing 500 teachers. But the poster-child for President Obama's "Race to the Top" has resigned after the mayor who hired her lost his bid for re-nomination. What will that mean for "Race to the Top" and school reform based on teacher accountability? Is it a win for teachers' unions and the seniority system? Are other factors just as important as teachers when it comes to improving the quality of public education? Our guests today include Davis Guggenheim, director of the school-reform documentary, Waiting for Superman.



 

Guests:
  • Alex Wagner: White House Correspondent, Politics Daily
  • Mary Filardo: Executive Director, 21st Century School Fund
  • Kate Walsh: President, National Council on Teacher Quality
  • Patrick Welsh: English Teacher, T.C. Williams High School
  • Davis Guggenheim: Director and Co-Writer, 'Waiting for Superman'
  • John Powell: Executive Director, Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity
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