Dan Lungren (R-CA)
Tom McClintock (R-CA)
Jared Polis (D-CO)
Mike Pence (R-IN)
Mary Fallin (R-OK)
Paul Ryan (R-WI)
Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
Jim Gerlach (R-PA)
Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
You might be wondering what these names have in common. While not an exhaustive list, they are a few of the members of Congress just elected or re-elected, upon whom education reformers can squarely count to advance better educational opportunities for all children – by leadership and votes. They were elected despite those views, always a good sign.
These folks differ on NCLB greatly, but on charter school and school choice issues their support has been solid. They’ll need reassurances, however, and reminders and occasional challenges when they get caught up in the onslaught of issues they face.
They’ll also need to find friends in Congress who might help back them up when they possibly vote to renew the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, or question why we’re sending more funds for teachers to states without a requirement that those funds be based entirely on merit, or even when voting to continue accountability provisions for federal funding.
Do you have others? Please send them our way as we begin to track the 111th Congress.
Tags: charter school, Congress, NCLB, school choice
