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Minnesota didn't win a share of $4.35 billion in federal education money this month because the state lacks a plan to develop quality educators and the state's application lacked support from the statewide teachers' union as well as many school district unions,

…. The reaction of Bill Walsh, the federal liaison for the Minnesota Department of Education, echoed complaints this month from Gov. Tim Pawlenty's office that the statewide teachers union, Education Minnesota, had been "an anchor" dragging down the state in the competition.

"The power of the teachers union in the state and their ability to stop reform over the years has led us to this point," Walsh said.

[U.S. Secretary of Education Arne] Duncan, a former CEO of the Chicago Public Schools, said the two winners [Delaware and Tennessee] separated themselves from the rest by their ability to touch every student and by strong cooperation among all interested groups, including teachers’ unions.

Illinois fell short because it didn’t have a plan for measuring student growth or how to deal with ineffective tenured teachers. But fixing the teacher issue could create tension with unions, which so far have cooperated with the federal money pursuit.

Leaders of the Iowa State Education Association supported the state's bid, but many school officials did not. They said forced negotiations would paralyze reforms because union officials would never agree to close schools or replace teachers.

The new law forces leaders of those schools to adopt one of four federal models for reform:

- Replace the principal, rehire no more than half the teachers, and build flexibility into budgeting, school calendars and other areas.

- Convert or close a school, or reopen it as a charter school.

- Close a school and enroll its students in another school in the district.

- Replace the principal, find ways to make teachers and administrators more effective, overhaul instruction, lengthen class time for students, involve the community, and provide more flexibility and support in operations.

Michigan lost points for lack of participation by teachers' unions and other shortcomings, according to comments from officials who reviewed the application. But union officials say lawmakers and the state Department of Education have ignored teachers' advice on how to fix ailing schools.

…. The reviewers noted the MEA didn't agree to participate in the competition, though the American Federation of Teachers signed on. "Only 8 percent of the applicable (districts) include the signature of local Teacher's Union Leader," reviewers wrote.

The most critical reviewer, who gave Wisconsin the equivalent of a high F grade on its application (293 out of 500 points), noted that the state had "a very significant challenge in getting local teacher union leaders to commit" to the state's plan - only about one in 10 district-level union leaders signed on.

"It appears that none of the union leaders in the state's largest districts, which are also those where the most dramatic changes are expected, have demonstrated their commitment to the plans outlined" in the state's application, the same reviewer wrote.

Teachers, parents and even some students are flooding the Legislature with e-mails and phone calls. They're protesting outside lawmakers' offices and organizing a rally Wednesday at the Capitol.

Their chief target: legislation that would make it easier to fire teachers and base part of their salaries on test scores.

``We just couldn't sit at home and do nothing while our profession is being attacked,'' said Carole Robinson, a biology teacher at Dunedin High School who is driving to Tallahassee for the rally. ``There is just no collaboration going on. We were shut out of the process.''

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