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Thursday 17 May 2018

AP analysis shows how Bill Gates influences education policy

By SALLY HO in terms of what they need
SEATTLE (AP) — Billionaire to know so that they're pre-
philanthropist Bill Gates saw pared for success after high
an opportunity with a new school," said Cohen, who
federal education law that was a member of a local
has widespread repercus- stakeholders group in Ten-
sions for American class- nessee focused on stan-
rooms. dards and assessments. He
His nonprofit Bill and Me- also gave a presentation
linda Gates Foundation to New York's Board of Re-
has given about $44 mil- gents urging the state to
lion to outside groups over adopt high standards as
the past two years to help part of its new education
shape new state education plan. Tennessee said Co-
plans required under the hen had a seat at the table
2015 law, according to an because it sought national
Associated Press analysis experts in addition to state
of its grants. The spending officials, community ad-
paid for research aligned vocacy groups and tradi-
with Gates' interests, led to tional and charter schools.
friendly media coverage Eve Carney, who led the
and had a role in helping plan's development for the
write one state's new edu- Tennessee Department of
cation system framework. Education, said it was im-
The grants illustrate how possible to quantify the
strategic and immersive specific impact of each of
the Microsoft founder can the 67 stakeholders across
be in pursuit of his educa- six working groups.
tion reform agenda, qui- "It's important to have di-
etly wielding national in- In this Feb. 1, 2018 file photo, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda take part in an versity in voice and differ-
fluence over how schools AP interview in Kirkland, Wash. ent points of view, how-
operate. Gates' carefully ever, the influence of one
curated web of influence standards, which means lions of dollars to protect of school reform in the Unit- over the other is not there,"
is often invisible but allows that the backbone for most Common Core as the new ed States. The foundation Carney said.
his foundation to drive the state education systems is law unfolded. since 2001 has contributed Another example of Gates'
conversation in support of Common Core — a symbol Some Common Core and more than $6 billion to- reach can be found in The
its vision on how to reshape for many critics during the Gates critics said they ward reshaping American 74 Media, Inc., which last
America's struggling school Obama years of federal weren't aware of the foun- schools, including nearly year published an exclusive
systems. overreach in schools. Gates dation's interest in the edu- $300 million on Common story featuring the analysis
Critics call it meddling by a was influential in supporting cation law or the millions Core by some estimates. of state plans done by the
foundation with vast wealth the Common Core aca- of dollars it has continued The groups receiving the Collaborative for Student
and resources. The Gates demic standards, and now to pour into supporting the recent education grants Success and quoting an ex-
Foundation says it's simply is doing the same as states standards. "They're doing said the money from Gates pert voice from the Council
helping states navigate a sort out the best ways to it in a quiet way because and other like-minded phi- of Chief State School Offi-
"tectonic" shift in responsi- implement their education they don't want the gen- lanthropies — such as the cers. Gates gave all three
bility for education — from policies under the 2015 law. eral public to know they're Carnegie Corporation of groups money to work on
the federal government to And that is how the world's still meddling in education New York and William and Every Student Succeeds
more local control. largest philanthropy works: policy," said Carol Burris of Flora Hewlett foundations Act.
"For 50 states with varying funding everything from the Network for Public Edu- — was used to develop The publication said Gates
sets of capacities and ca- policy work on the ground cation. expertise in the education doesn't influence the direc-
pabilities and readiness, it to broader research and And long before thou- law so that they could be tion of its coverage and
was both an opportunity analysis, as well as national sands of fed-up teachers a resource to states. Most that the money funded its
and also a concern that advocacy groups, com- walked off the job in four of those same groups have broader operation. After
states and partners in those munity leaders and me- unprecedented statewide been funded by Gates in the AP's inquiry, the educa-
states needed support," dia coverage both main- strikes this year over pay other initiatives, including tion news outlet acknowl-
said Allan Golston, presi- stream and niche. and school conditions, prominent Washington- edged an oversight by up-
dent of the Gates Founda- In Tennessee, a Gates- education union officials based policy players who dating the nearly year-old
tion's U.S. work. funded advocacy group had sounded alarm about developed Common Core story to add a Gates fund-
The Gates Foundation had a say in the state's new Gates' influence. The Amer- in 2009. ing disclosure.
spent about $44 million fo- education plan, with its ican Federation of Teach- Achieve, Inc., collaborated Golston said it's necessary
cused on the 2015 federal leader sitting on an impor- ers in 2014 broke ties with with local leaders to com- to take a multidimensional
education law called the tant advising committee. A Gates over Common Core pile information about new approach to play at the
Every Student Succeeds media outlet given money after initially supporting the state education plans. Mike system-wide level.
Act. The law gives states by Gates to cover the new standards. Cohen, Achieve's president "We're thoughtful about the
flexibility to create their law then published a story To be sure, the Seattle- who helped write Common programmatic dimensions
own education system about research funded by based foundation's educa- Core, also had more no- and advocacy and com-
framework defining what Gates. And many Gates- tion spending is just a small table roles in states such as munications dimensions.
a "good school" is — and in funded groups have be- fraction of its philanthropy, Tennessee and New York. That's just the nature of be-
turn states get federal dol- come the de facto experts which is primarily focused "Our focus has always been ing in education and we've
lars for complying with their who lead the conversa- on global health and de- about standards, about learned over time that you
own rules. tion in local communities. velopment. Still, in terms of helping states set the right have to be thoughtful,"
The law requires academic Gates also dedicated mil- dollars, it is the top funder expectations for students Golston said.q