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In enticing states with more than $4 billion of federal stimulus money, the Obama Administration is pushing for educational reform that looks much like Bush’s No Child Left Behind Law. States interested in competing for the funds are required to use test scores to judge teachers, and expand opportunities for charter schools. This puts the Department of Education at odds with most teachers unions most of whom take strong positions against both the requirements. Obama’s so-called Race to the Top initiative automatically shuts out eleven states that have banned charter schools. But several states have taken the bait, rewriting their education laws to allow charter school and the use of test scores to be eligible for the federal funds. Here in California, the use of test scores to judge teachers by state officials is barred, making this cash-strapped state likely to be ineligible for funds. The Education Department is still taking comments on its rules through August 28th. President Obama unveiled his Race to the Top initiative with Education Secretary Arne Duncan in late July.

GUEST: Bob Schaffer, Public education director of The National Center for Fair and Open Testing

More information at www.fairtest.org.