Shorts: teachers/unions go after Obama; brains leave/avoid US

1. Teachers and unions cranking up the anti-Duncan (and Obama) rhetoric. With cratering health care support, how will the Prez have Arne’s back?

2. Obama appears to have relatively strong public support but only 17% of Republicans support the prez—ironic since his edu-platform is a more aggressively Republican agenda (at least on charters and accountability) than Bush43.

3. And, while we argue about health and carp about teacher pay, there’s a brain drain occurring. Read this important TechCrunch article; talent leaving or staying in India and China; big long term implications for US economic leadership, innovation and venture capital.

4. Thelma has a very big job with complicated ESEA reauthorization.  Let’s make it a full 10 years without a fix; by that time ARRA and RttT will have shifted the debate.