Teachers' union criticizes Obama on schools stance

The National Education Association pointedly criticized the Obama administration, saying the president is relying too heavily on charter schools and standardized tests in his attempt to overhaul the nation's schools. "We urge the administration to step outside of this narrow agenda," the nation's largest teachers union said in a public statement filed Friday with the Education Department. The comments reflect that Obama has taken positions on school reform that conflict with teachers unions, an influential segment of his Democratic base. NEA official Kay Brilliant said the adminstration already knows about its concerns. "This won't come as a surprise," Brilliant said. "We've done our best to also praise them for the things they've done well." At issue is a competition for $5 billion in competitive grants for states to pursue innovations sought by President Barack Obama. Obama's "Race to the Top" competition, funded through the federal stimulus law, prioritizes charter schools and performance pay for teachers based on their students' academic performance.