DETROIT - Nineteen Detroit Public Schools teachers are running for election to leadership slots in the Detroit Federation of Teachers union on a school reform platform, according to The Detroit News. The teachers want to open their own charter school modeled after the Los Angeles Green Dot Schools, an editorial in The News said.
Teachers Ann Crowley and Ann Turner are leading the effort, called Detroit Children First, the editorial said. Elections will take place Nov. 24-26.
Green Dot Schools is a nonprofit network of unionized charter high schools that The News said are radically different and more effective than Detroit schools, funneling more money to the classroom and using performance, rather than seniority or tenure, to assess teachers.
The News said that Crowley and Turner were turned down by DPS administrators and union leaders when they proposed using Green Dot as a model for Detroit.
SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "Reform-minded Detroit teachers deserve help," Nov. 17, 2008
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "First class or 21st Century? Don't pass up chance to reform Detroit Public Schools," July 14, 2008
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