By now I’ve heard from many of you expressing concern about the amendment I drafted and added onto the Race to the Top legislation moving through the Legislature. And many of you who have expressed strong support for this move despite some reservations about how the School District will deal with this new tool.

I deeply appreciate and respect your concern. I am most impressed by the thoughtful, gracious and insightful dialogue many of you have shared with me privately.

My amendment was added yesterday to the Race to the Top bill, Senate Bill 6696, in the House Education Committee and now goes to the full House of Representatives.

It is exactly the integrity you have shown that tells me we are on the right track by trying to eliminate de-facto tenure for principals in Seattle and ultimately statewide.

The Seattle Times story about the amendment is posted here.

An earlier discussion of my passionate belief in strong principal accountability AND authority (resources, training, support, wrap around services, control over budgets and who is in your building, etc.) is posted here.

Many of you have asked, “why target Seattle principals only?” In arguing against this policy, one answer is that the state school principals association argued strenuously that few if any other jurisdictions appear to have a challenge with removing under achieving principals. Simply, Seattle seems to be an exception to the rule. Few other districts seem to have interpreted the state’s ‘probable cause’ standard so rigidly, in my view, and it makes sense to take a first step and learn from the experience before moving statewide. Second, I accept the idea that it is simply too easy to move principals around from school to school or to the Central Office in a major district. In a small district it’s just not possible.

Many of you have also asked why I’ve targeted principals when teachers and superintendents have greater protections. Fair challenge and legitimate question. Yet the Race to the Top bill targets superintendents for greater accountability as well, while taking a strong stand in favor of high accountability and high authority for teachers and principals. It is an important step. Principals play a special role in the trifecta of leadership and, yes, they have an obligation to stand up first for greater accountability.

We have maintained the state’s new WASL-driven standards for high school graduation for students. How can we not increase accountability for teachers, principals, administrators and parents (and legislators) as well?

I believe that principals are leaders, managers and bold advocates for student interests. Tenure for principals is old fashioned and counter productive to our state and nation’s larger interests in a strong school-based leadership team.

My commitment to you is that I will begin immediately working with you to draft legislation for 2011 to provide principals with more authority, support, resources and training.

You do not stand alone. You have the courage to lead and our community stands with you.

When we say ‘high accountability and high authority,’ we mean it.

Strong principals lead to strong schools and great student outcomes. I believe this move will help with Race to the Top and the Obama Administration’s priorities. And I believe it is 100% aligned with our state’s bold education reform direction toward more authority and more accountability for school leaders: Principals, teachers, administrators and parents.

Your partner in service,

Reuven.