Reply #44: Here's the real sticky point:

[LWolf]

The excellent idea we agree upon gives the power to the site level. Not just to the admin; to parents and teachers and admins, as a cohesive group.

It's an incredibly powerful way to build a positive climate, a positive experience, for all at the school. We proved it.

The downfall is that the people at the "top" don't like to share power. They want "top-down" power structures. Structures that de-power, rather than empower, the real stake-holders: families and teachers.

So far, every system of accountability that I've heard supported by a politician is a "top-down" system.

For an accountability system to truly work fairly and efficiently, our public ed system needs to be completely restructured from the bottom up, with the power held by the stakeholders. Frankly, that would solve most of the issues needing change and reform in public education. I don't think you will hear such a suggestion from most candidates. I'm not going to say from "any;" I'll give them all a chance. I'm skeptical, but willing to be shown differently.