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Grading America's Schools: Are Reforms Making a Difference?

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    Reformer Michelle Rhee weighs in

  • Duration 4:39
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Superstar education reformer Michelle Rhee is making serious changes to America's schools through her new groups students first.

So was nearly a year ago when she joined us on FOX & Friends to lay out her goals.

We are treating teachers like the professionals that they are and valuing them for their impact on student achievement.

We also start with making sure that parents and families are empowered with real choices some real information right and then lastly wanna make sure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and that we're not we're not wasting no especially in this -- tough.

Fiscal time.

Well Michelle -- joins us now from Sacramento California to give us a progress report the year end report good morning -- -- Michelle.

Good morning -- hill I'm doing just fine so.

I you have made a huge impact in just and the last year we should also mention that you were the former chancellor of schools.

In Washington DC where you did major reforms so let's look at the seven states were students first.

Has been able to pass new laws what to do any state.

We got a tremendous amount accomplished in those states with our members we got about fifteen laws passed and that they include things like.

Getting rid of last in first out layoff policies.

We also change the way that teachers are evaluated so that.

Much of how they're evaluated it is based on student achievement and how much they're they're students are progressing.

We also changed laws to teacher tenure and making sure that parents especially low income parents have choices in terms of their children's education.

And what schools or kids are going to do so.

How did you accomplish that because many states and local communities.

Have the union policies in -- Which would be against some of those things that you -- managed.

Wright was a whole reason why we started students first and lots of ways you have special interest groups like the teachers unions like textbook manufacturers.

Different groups who had tremendous influence and sway.

Over politicians and the kinds of policies and laws -- -- being passed and we thought you know what.

We need to have a national organized interest group that's advocating on behalf of children and what's in their best interest so that's why we started students first we have.

About 900000 members across the country in the way -- that we got those laws passed was we had our members.

Get mobilized get active and say you know what we're not gonna let special interest drive the day.

-- what happens to our kids this is going to be based on what we as parents and teachers and grandparents and business owners.

Feel is necessary to make America scored -- best in the world yet given the power back to the people like gas.

So you have -- you have singled out three ways that you believe we can improve our education recognize great teachers what you just talked about.

-- gain a competitive spirit I like that one and stop political partisanship.

I like I went to yes.

Talk about the last here.

Well you know we have to.

Regain that American competitive spirit we've gotten to the point in this country where we are spending a whole lot of time.

Congratulating kids for mediocrity you know we want to give every kid.

A -- or -- trophy -- -- even when they're not particularly good at things because we want kids to feel good about themselves that's not gonna make them.

Competitive what they're global counterparts in places like Japan and India and China across the globe -- And and the last thing is that we have to do we have to get rid of the partisan politics you know right now.

And Washington and and in state capitals across the country people are so busy worrying about -- -- -- some Republican policy -- with the democratic policy.

And what we need to do is focus on is this a policy.

That is going to do good things for kids to -- that and that you can answer yes to that question that we have to move forward with that.

-- and we have thirty seconds left but I gotta get your thoughts about the situation in Georgia sneaking ninth -- pick a career path guiding them as early as fifth grade.

My goodness -- -- do that got to know what I'd be is a good idea.

I think I'd be a failed ballerina at this point if that was the case.

You know it's important to expose children to a variety of different career fields and it certainly is important.

To Begin to build the skills that children are going to need.

Tinted to have -- and a great career -- but at the end of the day our job is to graduate children who have options in life they have the option to go to a four year university that's what they choose to do.

They have the option to go straight until workforce.

But we can't decide that for kids when they're ten years old -- always great to speak to you Michelle reed thanks so much founder of students first banks.

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