Florida

Putting Education Reform To The Test

Rhee Group Backing Off Florida Advocacy Efforts

StudentsFirst, the education advocacy group founded by former D.C. schools' chancellor Michelle Rhee, is powering down its Florida efforts.

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StudentsFirst, the education advocacy group founded by former D.C. schools' chancellor Michelle Rhee, is powering down its Florida efforts.

Former D.C. schools chancellor Michelle Rhee’s education advocacy group is scaling back its Florida efforts, Travis Pillow scoops for redefinED.

StudentsFirst spokesman Lane Wright said Florida has already adopted many policies the group promotes, so they are focusing efforts elsewhere.

That’s true. But, the group can’t exactly claim victory and walk off the field. StudentsFirst has failed to win approval for their top legislative priority each of the past three years.

StudentsFirst has been a major proponent for the “parent trigger,” which allow parents at schools earning failing grades to vote how to restructure the school — including converting to a charter school. The bills died in the Senate on a tie vote in both 2012 and 2013.

This year, the group pushed a bill which would measure schools’ return on investment. That bill made little progress with lawmakers.

StudentsFirst has raised $62 million for its efforts nationally, according to Politico. Rhee has said she wants to raise $1 billion for the group.

Read the full redefinED story here.

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