A gap in union muscle maps directly to power for education reformers, according to an analysis by The Lion of a report from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.
The Fordham study, released in May, scored all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 59 measures of union strength, including membership rates, political spending, bargaining rights and policy influence.
“The ecosystem of state education politics grows ever more crowded, with some new actors aligned with traditional union priorities but a seemingly larger number often working against them,” Fordham said.
When union strength is measured against test scores, the trend confirms what reformers have argued for years: The stronger the union, the harder it is to change anything.
Meanwhile, states with weak unions reformed aggressively and saw student test scores improve.
Florida, ranked 41st in union strength, pushed through massive reforms, including reading and science mandates, expanded school choice and third-grade retention for literacy.
