AFT President Signals Openness to Reforms
Other than vouchers, Randi Weingarten says “no issue should be off the table, provided it is good for children and fair to teachers.”
Randi Weingarten positioned herself as an education reformer during her first speech in the nation’s capital since taking over as president of the American Federation of Teachers. She signaled her union was wide open to discussing once-taboo issues ranging from merit pay to charter schools to tenure changes.
“With the exception of vouchers, which siphon resources from public schools, no issue should be off the table, provided it is good for children and fair to teachers,” said Ms. Weingarten, who took over the reins of the 1.4 million-member union in July.
As president of the United Federation of Teachers, Ms. Weingarten pioneered change in New York City, including a performance-pay plan for teachers, and many expect her to follow the path of the late Albert Shanker, the AFT leader who deftly balanced the once-contrary roles of...
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