Ras Baraka: the Best Thing to Happen to NJ Education Reform

That’s the title of my new NJ Spotlight column

:

It’s painful to say, but New Jersey’s education reform community might benefit from a victory by Councilman Ras Baraka in Newark’s mayoral race.

Baraka is the Democratic labor union darling who has pledged to reverse course on charter school expansion, accountability, and school closures. His opponent, Shavar Jeffries, former president of the Newark Schools Advisory Council, recently issued a thoughtful plan for academic progress that includes local control, longer school days, improved teacher support, and expanded choices for the 40,000 children who attend Newark’s public schools.

So why would an education reformer root for Baraka?

Read the rest here.