Morning Bell: Unions, Waivers, Loans, Arts

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Vice President Joe Biden speaks at the National Education Association convention in Washington, DC.

National Education Association: GOP teachers balk at Obama-centric convention – America’s largest teachers union is meeting in D.C. this week, where several GOP teachers told the Associated Press they feel out of place. The nation’s two largest teachers unions — the NEA and the American Federation of Teachers — are both top political contributors. AP

Tully: Political endorsement reveals ISTA’s pettiness, spite – “Occasionally an organization does us all a favor and exposes just how morally bankrupt it is. The Indiana State Teachers Association did just that recently.” (Indiana’s chapter of Democrats for Education Reform is livid.) Indy Star

RCS’ graduation waiver rate near state average – “All but one area high school granted graduation waivers to students who failed state-required exams in 2011, but none came close to matching the number of waivers that Indianapolis Public Schools granted, according to a weekend report by The Indianapolis Star.” Richmond Palladium-Item

Building Brains (And Bridges) – “After months of congressional wrangling, President Obama will sign HR 4348 — also known as the Transportation and Student Loan Rate Bill — today at the White House.” The Educated Reporter

Without the Arts, It’s Not Education – “Thanks to education funding cuts, the arts are being systematically stripped from our schools.” GOOD