By Ben Velderman
EAGnews.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Retiring U.S. Senator Tom Harkin already has an “A” rating from the National Education Association, but if his latest legislative proposal becomes law, the Iowa Democrat will secure a place in the teacher unions’ “Hall of Fame.”

On Tuesday, Harkin introduced a new law to replace the unpopular 2001“No Child Left Behind” law that places federal controls on public schools that receive federal money,  reports The New York Times.

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Under “No Child Left Behind,” schools that don’t make acceptable annual improvements in students’ math and reading scores are subject to stiff penalties, including dismissal of staff members and possible closure.

Harkin’s bill “gives states and districts more flexibility to devise their own supports” or turnaround plans “for all but the most struggling schools,” the Times reports.

In this regard, Harkin’s bill is essentially a continuation of the Obama administration’s policy that has granted 37 states with waivers to the “No Child Left Behind” law in return for promises of reform. And like the current policy, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan would “have final say over those improvement plans,” reports the Associated Press.

Harkin’s gifts to the nation’s teacher unions are found in the details of his plan.

According to the Sioux City Journal, “Harkin’s bill would continue proficiency testing for math and reading, but would give states more flexibility in how to conduct those tests. One option could be using projects instead of multiple choice questions to test students.”

Other news organizations report student portfolios could also be used to determine proficiency.

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Whatever measurements a state chooses, they would have to be linked to Common Core or other “college and career ready” learning standards, reports the Times.

If students are allowed to demonstrate proficiency through such subjective and fuzzy ways as class projects and portfolios, it’s very likely student “success” rates would shoot up in a hurry. That would be a huge gift to the nation’s teacher union leaders who have become very sensitive to criticism about how little American students are learning in the classroom.

But Harkin doesn’t stop there.

His bill would also de-emphasize the role of test scores in determining a teacher’s overall job rating. Instead, states would have to use a variety of measures to determine how well a teacher is performing in the classroom.

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten praised the proposal as “a good first step.”

Harkin offers several other gifts to the teacher unions.

His bill would encourage states to provide full-day kindergarten, develop or expand early childhood education, and provide greater access to high-literacy instruction for preschoolers.

Those provisions would result in the creation of many new teaching positions – and by extension – dues-paying union members. That would be a bonanza for the many local teacher unions that have lost members due to layoffs and “right-to-work” initiatives.

Harkin’s 1,150-page bill – known as the “Strengthening America’s Schools Act of 2013” – will get its first public hearing next Tuesday, but it already faces a lot of opposition.

The New York Times notes that Sen. Lamar Alexander (R – Tenn.) plans on introducing his own alternative to “No Child Left Behind” later this week.

And even if Harkin’s bill passes the Senate, it doesn’t appear likely to pass the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.