On his blog, state Rep. Reuven Carlyle (D-36) writes that the reason the state of Washington failed to secure federal Race to the Top funds for education is that the state focused on political consensus at the expense of radical change. (Education reform legislation passed this year failed to track school evaluations to student performance or embrace charter schools, two criteria for Race to the Top funding).
Carlyle:
Our state’s current education reform effort is legitimate, genuine and meaningful for our state, and we should be proud of the impressive progress we’re making on the ground. Yet we cannot pretend that it is world-class in scale and scope relative to the radical systems change we need and relative to the rest of the nation.
And so now is the time for a new level of courageous honesty. It is time for a sense of moral conviction to raise previously unspoken issues–to open the dialogue–to engage in tough political discussions–to step back and talk about previously taboo subjects because they matter.
First, let’s put the toughest question of all on the table: Do we retreat into criticism of the Race to the Top process or do we engage anew in the hard work of unleashing the bold spirit of change? Let’s double down on our hard work, not retreat into lethargy of inaction about education reform.
Second, I believe, heart and soul, that we need courageous honesty to put every policy issue on the table without preconceived restrictions, restrictions or the paralysis of the status quo. Every issue means every issue.
Read Rep. Carlyle’s whole post here.
