Tom Luna's education reform plan was a long time in the making

[IDemo]

How Tom Luna’s co-workers from the Bush administration — and the private education companies they now help run — positioned Idaho’s schools chief to make changes that the for-profit education industry may cash in on

BY DAN POPKEY
Idaho Statesman
Published: 02/20/11

In October 2009, Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna held a re-election fundraiser in the Capitol Hill offices of Dutko Worldwide, one of America’s top lobbying firms.

Sponsors included two leading voices in the Republican education re-form movement: former U.S. Education secretaries William Bennett and Rod Paige.

The event marked an important moment in Luna’s re-election bid, as he won support from education technology companies interested in changing state policy to boost their business.

If Luna’s “Students Come First” proposal passes the Legislature, online education will be mandated in Idaho and a laptop will be available to every high school student. That means 115 school districts, with 82,000 high school students, will be in the market for computers, software and online courses.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/02/20/1535065/a-reform-plan-a-long-time-in-the.html