Students First: Former DC Chancellor of Schools Michelle Rhee-leases National Education Reform Plan

As Mayor Adrian Fenty learned quickly, a firecracker is not safely held in ones hand. Fenty battled during his last term to protect Michelle Rhee, the former chancellor of schools for Washington DC. I don't want to say he lost his re-election bid due to standing up for Rhee as she fired teachers, and angered unions to the boiling point in attempt to reform schools, but it probably did not help. According to the Center for Education Reform, Washington DC has the highest ranking for charter schools in the country, and whether or not you believe charter schools are good or bad, this is an accomplishment, and an award Rhee can put on her belt.

Today, Michelle Rhee submitted an op ed to the Wall Street Journal discussing her plans for national education reform using Students First. Students First is an organization that Rhee set up after leaving her position in DC to promote interest in children in public education making sure they receive good teachers and great schools by the effective use of public funds.

Rhee says that the time for education reform is now, with 46 states currently under a budget deficit, immediate action should take place. She points to California who has the highest debt among all states and who also announced Monday that they would cut 1 billion from higher education in the public sector and for now let alone funding for elementary education. It is truly going to be a difficult task for the Students First group who since its launch last month has raised $1.4 million and accrued a member list of just over 100,000.

This week, Students First announced their campaign: "A Challenge to States and Districts: Policies that Put Students First." Some of the goals in this program are to:

1. Give parents more control over what public schools their children attend, including creating options such as more charter schools.

2. Lobby for cities to choose mayoral, rather than board member decision policies, to have concentrated authority rather than many decision makers.

3. Advocate for stronger fiscal responsibility due to rising costs, superfluous spending, and large budget deficits.

4. Focus on the quality of education; upholding teachers positions based on their performance rather than their seniority.

Rhee says in the WSJ, " Now is the time to act. With 28 new governors, 10 big mayoral races this year, and shifting ideological balances inside of old political parties, there is a real opportunity for change." This will not come without malaise from public figures and angered teachers union members. Rhee continues to stand strong against pension programs for teachers and wasteful higher education reimbursement. Many states pay for masters and doctoral courses for their public school teachers which Rhee says has little to no effect on the quality of education for the student, and only benefits the teacher while increasing state deficits.

I challenge whether or not Rhee will be able to obtain the funds she was hoping for and can battle Governors like Jerry Brown who believe that education is the easiest place to make cuts during a budget deficit. Follow Michelle Rhee and her organization at studentsfirst.org.