A political odd couple put aside partisan bickering to join the U.S. Secretary of Education in Baltimore in a dramatic push to reform public school education. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, the Rev. Al Sharpton and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan visited Baltimore charters Hampstead Hills Academy and KIPP Ujima Village Academy as well as Holabird Elementary/Middle School on November 13th. Their multi-city tour is a result of a meeting with President Obama last spring and aims to stimulate community discussion and spur innovation in America's public schools.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said that every child in Baltimore deserves to have a good education and criticized Maryland's charter school law which he called, "too restrictive." He was referring to a recent pay dispute between KIPP Ujima Village Academy and the Baltimore Teacher's Union which required the school to cut 45 minutes from the daily class schedule and cancel Saturday classes. Maryland law requires charter schools abide by established collective bargaining agreements unless unions agree to other terms.
Read more about the tour in Baltimore Sun.
Comments
Hello Laura,
Great piece and welcome to the Examiner!
Looking forward to reading more about charter schools in Baltimore.
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