More debates -- among education advisers

The Columbia University Teachers College hosted a debate between the main education advisers for the two campaigns on Tuesday. John McCain's chief education adviser Lisa Graham Keegan (who was certainly busy on Tuesday) faced off with Linda Darling Hammond, one of Barack Obama's main advisers.

You can read the transcript or register to view the webcast.

The education picture gets a little clearer

NPR offers its take on the differences between McCain and Obama’s approach to education, along with some details about who is advising the two candidates.

The transcribed article points out that Obama, if elected, would be the first president to require all teacher colleges to be accredited. But with more states allowing alternative licensing programs to combat teacher shortages, it’ll be interesting to see how that idea in particular plays among governors.

Another take on that Johnston meeting...

Here's how Flypaper summed up the session with Obama education adviser Mike Johnston.



note: edited to correct link.

Obama education aide meets the press

Over at Education Week's Campaign K-12, David Hoff offers this summary of a meeting today between the national press and one of Obama's top education advisers:

Obama Adviser Touts 'Comprehensive' Education Solutions
From guest blogger David J. Hoff:
Michael Johnston, one of Sen. Barack Obama's many education advisers, met with several journalists today to discuss the Illinois senator's agenda for schools.
Johnston summed up the Democratic presidential candidate's platform in one word: "comprehensive."
It would have $10 billion for new pre-K initiatives and add $8 billion for K-12 programs, particularly for recruiting, retaining, and rewarding teachers. It also would improve college affordability and access.
As for the No Child Left Behind Act, Johnston repeated what Obama has said he likes and dislikes about the law. High standards and accountability are good. The level of funding and the quality of assessments aren't. Johnston added that Obama believes a federal accountability system could measure students' reading and math skills while not narrowing the curriculum to those areas.
"It's a false choice," the Denver-area principal said. "There's a way to do both."
When asked to comment on the education agenda that Sen. John McCain announced last week, Johnston said it isn't, well, comprehensive.
McCain had plenty to say about expanding choice and tutoring, Johnston said, but nothing about pre-K, college financial aid, or how to fix NCLB. "There wasn't anything that addressed the 90 percent of students that are in public schools," Johnston said.

Obama education coordinator

Russo post identifies (and pictures) Harvard Law grad Danielle Gray as Obama's overseer of education policy.

Education advisers

Curious who's advising the candidates day-to-day on education? While familiar names populate the official advisory panels, the folks slogging it out day-to-day on education issues aren't necessarily familiar names. Over at This Week in Education, Alexander Russo has a self-described work-in-progress that aims to put together a list. Take a look. I'm sure Russo would welcome contributions.

Richard Whitmire