The Washington Post (5/23, Rucker) reports in its "Election 2012" blog that presidential candidate Mitt Romney has "announced a team of education policy advisers that includes former education secretary Rod Paige and other top appointees from President George W. Bush's administration." The Post notes that Romney has focused little stump rhetoric on education, but "plans to outline what he would do as president in an education policy address in Washington on Wednesday. Romney is a proponent of expanding school choice – as governor of Massachusetts, he was a charter schools advocate -- and has been an outspoken critic of teachers' unions." The piece notes that the committee includes leading teacher union opponents, and lists its members.
The Boston Globe (5/23, Viser) "Political Intelligence" blog also covers Romney's "extensive list of education policy advisers, further adding to the growing roster of voices helping the presumptive Republican presidential nominee flesh out his policies on major national issues," noting that in addition to former Bush Administration officials, the group includes "several who advised Romney while he was Massachusetts governor, including Robert Costrell and Jim Peyser." The Orlando Sentinel (5/23) also covers this story in its "Central Florida Political Pulse"
-What does this mean for the education community?
-What will reauthorization look like?
-Shades of the past, or new beginnings?
Your thoughts?...