It had been a while since I glanced at our reader polls for recent Reform-o-Meter ratings, so I just took a look. (You can too: see here, here, here, here, and here, and click on "view results.") The pattern is consistent: our readers are always at least a tad tougher on the Obama Administration than I am. In the end, it doesn't add up to a different cumulative rating-both readers and I consider Team Obama "Neutral" on education reform so far, which, let's face it, is pretty disappointing. But the readers are edging toward a "chilly" outlook, while my needle is leaning toward "luke warm."
What's it going to take for the R-o-M to get warm again? Strong appointments for Deputy Secretary and Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education would help. So would a reversal of the Administration's decision to rescind scholarship offers from 200 needy District of Columbia families. And smart moves around the Secretary's "Race to the Top" incentive fund and his $650 million slush fund (I mean "innovation" fund) would help too. For now, it's clear that President Obama continues to straddle the Democratic divide on education. But it's not too late for him to pick a side (the right side, let's hope).
