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I asked teachers union head Randi Weingarten today whether she shares Mayor Bloomberg’s optimism that the city will be able to use its federal stimulus funds to avert thousands of threatened teacher layoffs. “I’m glad the mayor is optimistic,” Weingarten said. But she said the stimulus money is “a big, big step forward but not enough” to insulate schools and children from budget cuts this year. The video above shows Weingarten’s complete response.

Weingarten also told me she’s hopeful that the city will use some of its stimulus money to build up social services at some schools with particularly needy families. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan didn’t say today whether he’d like to see stimulus money used that way. But as the head of Chicago’s school system, Duncan promoted that city’s “community schools” model, where schools act as neighborhood centers that offer medical, mental health, and family support services. Weingarten pushed the model in her first speech as president of the national teachers union; that speech took place last July in Chicago.

Flanked by people who often find themselves arguing — Mayor Bloomberg, Chancellor Joel Klein, and teachers union leader Randi Weingarten — U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today offered praise for them all.

At a press conference this afternoon in Brooklyn, Duncan said all three New Yorkers have helped make the city an example for how school districts across the country could “remake public education” with their share of $100 billion in federal stimulus funds.

Some of the stimulus money is meant to plug deep holes in states’ education budgets. But Duncan said he wants states to use other funds allocated in the stimulus package to adopt accountability-oriented reforms along the lines of some recent New York City initiatives, such as the creation of a comprehensive data system, called ARIS, and the introduction of a program that gives some teachers bonuses based on their students’ test scores. The city Department of Education said in a press release today that it might try to use some of its stimulus money to expand those initiatives.

Those programs could be funded through Duncan’s discretionary “Race to the Top Fund,” through which the education secretary will give grants to states that want to try new approaches to helping students do better. “I fully expect New York City and New York State to put together a great proposal” for the funds, Duncan said. “In many ways, you are already setting the standard — including the pay-for-performance program here pioneered by the leadership right here in this city.”

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan with students, parents, and teachers from Brooklyn's Explore Charter School

Duncan departed from his prepared remarks to compliment Bloomberg’s “extraordinary courage” in taking control of the city’s schools and to say that he has learned a lot from Klein, whom he called “a good, good friend of mine.” Duncan also called Weingarten “a remarkable leader” and said he and President Barack Obama will work closely with her. “She is going to be a strong, strong voice for reform,” Duncan said. Video of the lovefest is above.

Even if they don’t see a cent of the Race to the Top Fund, New York City’s public schools and colleges are slated to receive about $1.9 billion through the federal stimulus act signed into law this week, Duncan said today. That money would prevent teacher layoffs, fill in some budget gaps, add new funds for poor students and children with special needs, and support preschool, technology, and job training programs.

The city DOE’s full press release is after the jump.

(more…)

Okay, not 24 hours. But check out the mayor’s public schedule. Not one moment without teachers union president Randi Weingarten:

PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR
MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2009

*11:00 AM     Joins American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten at Meeting of the New York State Democratic Congressional Delegation to Discuss Economic Stimulus Conference Report
H-137 U.S. Capitol Building
WASHINGTON, DC
*FYI Only. This meeting is closed to press.

*12:15 PM      Joins American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten to Discuss Economic Stimulus Conference Report with Senator Susan Collins (R – ME)
401 Dirksen Senate Office Building
WASHINGTON, DC
*FYI Only. This meeting is closed to press.

*1:00 PM        Joins American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten to Discuss Economic Stimulus Conference Report and Hold Media Availability with House Education Chairman George Miller (D – CA) and House Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D – NY) (more…)

Flypaper and Politics K12 report dramatic differences between the House and Senate stimulus bills’ education allocations. The House bill includes funds for three things teachers unions often oppose: performance-based pay, education data systems, and a separate pot for charter schools. The Senate bill has none of these things.

Mike Petrilli says this reflects the divide inside the Democratic Party on education issues, and it’s hard to argue against that. The question I’d like answered is, which bill did the Obama administration have the most say in writing?

Update: As Leonie points out in the comments, I originally said Senate where I meant House and vice versa. House version has the reformier stuff.