Andy Smarick over at Fordham’s Flypaper blog, has been having fun with what he calls the “Universal State Application Theorem,” which holds that there is an inverse relationship between a state’s Race To The Top application and stakeholder (particularly, state teacher union) support. In other words, the more progressive and reform-minded the RTTT application, the fewer local bargaining units will sign on. He notes that “In Florida, only 5 local unions signed on…the state has 67 districts.”
Well, New Jersey should be proud. While Florida can boast a respectable RTTT application because only 7.46% of local FEA chapters signed off, we leave them in the dust: 20 local units of NJEA out of 591 signed our RTTT application, or 3.38%.
