StudentsFirst
Encyclopedia
StudentsFirst is an organization formed by U.S. public school reform
advocate Michelle Rhee
in 2010, after she resigned as school chancellor of Washington D.C. public schools. The organization is focused on eliminating the "last in, first out" seniority system
for laying off public school teachers, saying that such a system promotes a sense of "adult entitlement" among teachers; increases the number of teachers that must be laid off due to budget cuts and results in the loss of effective teachers (those who produce 50 percent more learning among their students).
The organization supports the Student Success Act legislation signed into law by Governor Rick Scott of Florida; Michigan legislation that will remove a teacher's tenure status after a bad evaluation; and similar proposals in Georgia, Indiana, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. The organization's activities have been the subject of significant coverage with articles appearing in the DailyKos, the Huffington Post, Fast Company
magazine, National Public Radio, Education News Colorado, The Washington Post
, The New York Times
, and USA Today
.
Education reform
Education reform is the process of improving public education. Small improvements in education theoretically have large social returns, in health, wealth and well-being. Historically, reforms have taken different forms because the motivations of reformers have differed.A continuing motivation has...
advocate Michelle Rhee
Michelle Rhee
Michelle A. Rhee is a public figure involved in the American education system. She was chancellor of the Washington, D.C. public schools from 2007 to 2010...
in 2010, after she resigned as school chancellor of Washington D.C. public schools. The organization is focused on eliminating the "last in, first out" seniority system
Teacher tenure reform
Teacher tenure is a term used to describe a policy which outlines the reasons why a teacher may be fired. The only reason a teacher may be fired under tenure is for a "just cause". Without just cause, a teacher who has received tenure may not be fired. The individual states each have established...
for laying off public school teachers, saying that such a system promotes a sense of "adult entitlement" among teachers; increases the number of teachers that must be laid off due to budget cuts and results in the loss of effective teachers (those who produce 50 percent more learning among their students).
The organization supports the Student Success Act legislation signed into law by Governor Rick Scott of Florida; Michigan legislation that will remove a teacher's tenure status after a bad evaluation; and similar proposals in Georgia, Indiana, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. The organization's activities have been the subject of significant coverage with articles appearing in the DailyKos, the Huffington Post, Fast Company
Fast Company (magazine)
Fast Company is a full-color business magazine that releases 10 issues per year and reports on topics including innovation, digital media, technology, change management, leadership, design, and social responsibility...
magazine, National Public Radio, Education News Colorado, The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, and USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
.
External links
- Teacher tenure reform, Big Rapids Daily Press, May 23, 2011.