ALEC Education and Workforce Development Task Force

About ALEC

ALEC is a corporate bill mill. It is not just a lobby or a front group; it is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, corporations hand state legislators their wishlists to benefit their bottom line. Corporations fund almost all of ALEC's operations. They pay for a seat on ALEC task forces where corporate lobbyists and special interest reps vote with elected officials to approve “model” bills. Learn more at the Center for Media and Democracy's ALECexposed.org, and check out breaking news on our PRWatch.org site.

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has nine task forces:

• the ALEC Civil Justice Task Force,
• the ALEC Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force,
• the ALEC Communications and Technology Task Force,
• the ALEC Criminal Justice Reform Task Force,
• the ALEC Education and Workforce Development Task Force,
• the ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force,
• the ALEC Federalism and International Relations Task Force,
• the ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force, and
• the ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force.

(Until it was disbanded in April 2012, ALEC also operated a Public Safety and Elections Task Force, which adopted such "model" bills as the "Stand Your Ground" bill or "Castle Law" doctrine and the voter ID Act. Later in 2012, ALEC launched the "Justice Performance Project" (JPP) in place of the Public Safety and Elections Task Force. The bills associated with the JPP in task force materials obtained by the Center for Media and Democracy and posted by ALEC appear to continue ALEC's modus operandi of promoting the financial interests of the corporations and special interest groups that fund it, such as the American Bail Coalition, according to PRWatch.)

This article is about ALEC's Education and Workforce Development Task Force, formerly the ALEC Education Task Force. Corporations can join this task force for $2,500 a year. For model legislation crafted and adopted by the Education and Workforce Development Task Force, go here. For task force directories and meeting agendas, go here.

2015 States and Nation Policy Summit Substantive Agenda

The following "model" bills were proposed for the Scottsdale, Arizona conference:

• "Digital Teaching and Learning Program {Utah}" (PDF, p. 4)
• "Dual Language Immersion Program {Utah}" (PDF, p. 33)
• "Draft Growing Our Workforce Investment Now (Go Win) Act" (PDF, 36)
• "The Great Schools Tax Credit Program Act (Scholarship TaxCredits)" (PDF, 38)
• "The Parental Choice Scholarship Program Act (Means-Tested Eligibility)" (PDF, p. 50)

Presentations and panel discussions to be held at the conference included:

• "The Future of Blaine Amendments"
• "God and Man Disinvited at Yale?"

2015 Annual Meeting Substantive Agenda

The following "model" bills were proposed for the San Diego, California conference:

• "Digital Teaching and Learning Program {Utah}" (PDF, p. 6)
• "Dual Language Immersion Program Act {Utah}" (PDF, p. 28)
• "The Great Schools Tax Credit Program Act (Scholarship Tax Credits)" (PDF, p. 31)
• "The Parental Choice Scholarship Program Act (Means-Tested Eligibility)" (PDF, p. 43)
• "Public Charter School Authorizing and Accountability Model Legislation" (PDF, p. 55)
• "The Education Savings Account Act" (PDF, p. 75)
• "Public Charter School Funding and Facilities Model Legislation" (PDF, p. 88)
• "Public Charter School Operations and Autonomy Model Legislation" (PDF, p. 104)

Presentations and panel discussion to be held at the conference included:

• "Legislative Roundtable: Educational Savings Accounts"
• "Doing Less With Much Less and Getting More: Transforming American Higher Education"

2015 Spring Task Force Summit Substantive Agenda

The following "model" bills were proposed for the Savannah, Georgia conference:

• "Draft of Tax Credit for Skilled Training Act" (PDF, p. 6)

Presentations and panel discussions to be held at the conference included:

• "Impact of Charter Schools on Rural Southern Counties"
• "Public Charter School Model Bills"
• "Biometrics Applications in Education"
• "Bringing the Concepts of Free Markets to Educational Content Purchasing"
• "North Carolina - Digital Learning"
• "The Great State of Texas - Overview"
• "College and Career Readiness, Building a Global Workforce"
• "Course Choice"

2014 States and Nation Policy Summit Substantive Agenda

The following "model" bills were proposed for the Washington, DC conference:

• "Public Charter Schools Act" (PDF, p. 8)
• "Draft of Public Charter Schools Funding Act" (PDF, p. 31)

Presentations and panel discussions to be held at the conference included:

• "19th Edition Report Card on American Education"
• "Charter School Working Group Update"
• "Educational Savings Accounts - Education Reform Today"
• "Public Charter School Act"
• "States' Role in Protecting Student Information"
• "Public Charter Schools Funding Act"

2014 Annual Meeting Substantive Agenda

The following "model" bills were proposed for the Dallas, TX conference:

• "Draft of Affordable Baccalaureate Degree Act" (PDF, p. 8)
• "Draft of Public Charter Schools Act" (PDF, p. 9)
• "Draft of Public Charter Schools Funding Act" (PDF, p. 32)

Presentations and panel discussions to be held at the conference included:

• "Restoring Primacy to Public Higher Education: Federal Student Financial Aid Programs and the Law of Unintended Consequences”
• "Review and Update: ALEC's Education Principles"
• "Fiscal Notes Calculator"
• "Report Card on American Education 19th Edition"
• "Standardized Tests: A Study On Education Control Systems"

2014 Spring Task Force Summit Substantive Agenda

The following "model" bills were proposed at the Kansas City, Missouri conference:

• "Draft of Student Futures Program Act" (PDF, p. 7)
• "Draft of Teacher Quality Assurance Act" (PDF, p. 10)
• "Draft of The Educational Choice Tax Program Credit Act (Scholarship Tax Credits)" (PDF, p. 13)

Presentations and panel discussions to be held at the conference included:

• "Education Reform Presentation: The Best Course on Course Choice"
• "Review and Update ALEC's Education Principles"
• "Digital Learning Presentation: 1:1 Devices vs. High Quality Computer Assisted Instruction"
• "Model Policy Discussion and Voting: Sunset Review"
  • "Credit Articulation Agreements Act"
  • "Inclusive College Savings Plan Act"
  • "Founding Principles Act"
  • "Online Learning Clearinghouse Act"
  • "The Public School Financial Transparency Act"
  • "Higher Education Scholarships for High School Pupils Act"

2013 States and Nation Policy Summit Substantive Agenda

The following "model" bills were proposed for the Washington, DC conference:

• "Student Achievement Backpack Act" (PDF, p. 10)
• "Student Futures Program Act" (PDF, p. 14)
• "Course Choice Program Act" (PDF, p. 17)
• Amendments (PDF, p. 29) to the "Education Savings Account Act"
• Amendments (PDF, p. 41) to the "Foster Child Scholarship Program Act"
• "Early Intervention Program Act" (PDF, p. 6)
• "K-1 Technology-Based Reading Intervention for English Learners Act" (PDF, p. 8)
• Sunset Review of "Personal Financial Literact Act"

Presentations and panel discussions to be held at the conference included:

• "School Funding that Follows the Child, School Finance, and School Choice Trends"
• "National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Overview and Report Card on American Education"
• "Course Choice, K-12, and Higher Education"
• "Charter Schools Update"
• "Student-Focused Funding Solutions for Public Education"
• "Public Education Appropriations in North Dakota"

2013 Annual Meeting Substantive Agenda

The following "model" bills were proposed at the Chicago, IL conference:

• "Student Data Accessibility, Transparency, and Accountability Act" - (This act "would require the [State Board of Education/State Department of Education] to make publicly available an inventory and index of all data elements with definitions of individual student data fields currently in the statewide longitudinal data system. The [State Board of Education/State Department of Education] would be required to create a data security plan, ensuring compliance with federal and state data privacy laws and policies. Certain contracts would be required to include privacy and security provisions. A Chief Privacy Officer will be created within the State Department of Education whose primary mission includes ensuring department-wide compliance with all privacy laws and regulations. This bill adds new annual security and privacy reporting requirements to the Governor and Legislature.")

• "The Great Schools Tax Credit Program Act (Scholarship Tax Credits)"- ("The Great Schools Tax Credit Program authorizes a tax credit for individual and corporate contributions to organizations that provide educational scholarships to eligible students so they can attend qualifying public or private schools of their parents’ choice.")

• "The Honest Transcript Bill" - ("The Honest Transcript Bill looks to correct grade inflation by requiring all public colleges and universities to include on student transcripts—alongside the individual grade the student received for each class—the average grade given by the professor for the entire class. This would help potential employers learn whether a given high grade-point average signifies superlative talent or merely that the student completed undemanding courses.")

• "Informed Student Document Bill" - (Designed to "aid students and their parents, the Informed Student Document Bill would publish the following outcomes by which a state’s universities can be compared: 1. “Sticker-price” tuition relative to other institutions; 2. Net price, after grants and scholarships, relative to other institutions; 3. Retention rate relative to other institutions; 4. Graduation rate relative to other institutions; 5. Average student debt relative to other institutions; 6. Loan repayment rates relative to other institutions; 7. Employment potential relative to other institutions; 8. Average starting salaries for each academic major (gleaned from national employment surveys.")

• "The Collegiate Learning Assessment Bill"- ("This model legislation requires public colleges and universities to administer the Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) to all students during their freshman and senior years. The schools would also be required to publish the results, broken down by academic majors.")

Presentations and panel discussions held at the conference included:

• "Digital Learning," presented by Ted Dabrowski for The Illinois Policy Institute
• “The Student Loan Crisis and College Graduate Unemployment Problem,” presented by Dr. Richard Vedder, Ohio University
• “Every Student Deserves a Quality Education: A Mother’s Story with Vouchers” presented by Erin Fulton
• “School Choice Roundup” presented by Scott Jensen, American Federation for Children

Additional "technical amendments" were proposed for the following acts:

• Parental Choice Program (Universal Eligibility)
• Parental Choice Scholarship Program Act (Universal Eligibility, Means-Tested scholarship Amount)
• Military Family Scholarship Program Act

2012 ALEC Winter Task Force Summit Substantive Agenda

The following "model" bills were proposed at the Washington D.C. conference:

• "School Choice Directory Act" (Presented by Jonathan Butcher, Goldwater Institute) (This proposal "requires the state department of education to produce a catalogue of educational options available in the state. The catalogue will provide a brief description of all educational choices for students in K-12 as they apply to the state, including (as applicable) open enrollment, charter schools, vouchers, education savings accounts, homeschooling, and tax credit scholarships.")

2012 ALEC Spring Task Force Summit Substantive Agenda

The May 2012 ALEC Spring Task Force Summit was held in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The following "model" bills were adopted at Charlotte and then were sent on to the ALEC board for approval:

• "District and School Freedom Act" (presented by Jonathan Butcher of Goldwater Institute) (It "creates a mechanism for public school districts and schools to to request exemption from state education standards and regulations...")

2011 ALEC Winter Task Force Summit Substantive Agenda

The following "model" bills were proposed at the Scottsdale conference:

• "Local Government Transparency Act" (Presented by Collin Hitt, Illinois Policy Institute) (This proposal "requires that a unit of local government or school district having an annual budget equal to, or more than, $500,000 must maintain and post on its website" an array of information pertaining to the district.")

• "Comprehensive Legislative Package Opposing the Common Core State Standards Initiative" (Presented by Jonathan Butcher, Goldwater Institute and Emmett McGroarty, American Principles Project) (This proposal "rejects any policies and procedures that would be incumbent on the state based on the Common Core State Standards Initiative.")

• "Resolution Opposing Federal Intrusion in State Education Content Standards" (Presented by Sen. Rich Crandall of Arizona) (This proposal "vigorously opposes any effort by the federal government to deny the authority of any state to set its own education academic content standards or to attempt to overturn decisions made duly by a state regarding any education standards deemed by the constitutionally-designated authorities in that state to be in the best interest of that state’s children.")

• "The Founding Philosophy and Principles Act" (Presented by Sen. Don Vaughan of North Carolina) (This draft proposes that schools emphasize "the Founding Philosophy and the Founding Principles of our government for a free people, which are found in the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the Federalist Papers and the writings of the Founders, and an understanding of their preservation.")

• "Higher Education Capital Projects Transparency Act" (Presented by Michael Poliakoff, American Council of Trustees and Alumni) (This proposal "requires a public institution of higher education to develop and promulgate procedures for maximum utilization of existing facilities, to make data on the average weekly usage of classrooms and laboratories available on its website in a format clearly comprehensible to the public, and to hold public discussion of each proposed capital construction project exceeding $10,000,000 in total cost, including, but not limited to, evaluation of utilization of existing campus instructional buildings for a period not less than the three years preceding the construction proposal.")

• "Academic Accountability in Higher Education Act" (Presented by Michael Poliakoff, American Council of Trustees and Alumni) (This proposal "requires all four-year institution of higher education that receive state funding, including, but not limited to funding for operating expenses, student financial aid, or capital projects to assess annually student learning gains in core collegiate skills and to make the results of this and related academic assessments prominently available on its website.")

• "Substantive Transparency in Education Act" (Presented by Emmett McGroarty, American Principles Project) (This proposal "requires each public school to make available to parents all current textbooks, curricula, instructional materials, and instructional programs for inspection by any parent or guardian of a child enrolled in that school.")

2011 ALEC Annual Meeting Substantive Agenda

From the 2011 ALEC Annual Conference Program: the Task Force voted on "several proposed bills and resolutions, with topics including: digital learning, the Common Core State Standards, charter schools, curriculum on free enterprise, taxpayers' savings grants, amendments to the existing model legislation on higher education accountability, and a comprehensive bill that incorporates many components of the landmark school reforms Indiana passed this legislative session. Attendees will hear a presentation on the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards' initiative to grow great schools, as well as one on innovations in higher education."

"Model" bills introduced at the meeting include:

• Amendments to the "Higher Education Accountability Act" (sponsored by Dr. Hary Stille)
• "Comprehensive Legislative Package Opposing the Common Core State Standards Initiative" (introduced but tabled)
• "Resolution Adopting the 10 Elements of High Quality Digital Learning" (sponsored by Sen. Rich Crandall, Arizona)
• "Free Enterprise Education Act" (sponsored by Roberta Philips, U.S. Chamber of Commerce)
• "Indiana Education Reform Package" (Presented by Rep. Cindy Noe of Indiana) (This package is based on a "comprehensive set of K–12 education reforms adopted by the Indiana Legislature in the spring of 2011. The components in this Act have created the nation’s largest school voucher program, among other reforms.")
• "Resolution Opposing the Implementation of the Common Core State Standards Initiative" (Presented by Jonathan Butcher, Goldwater Institute) (This resolution "rejects any policies and procedures that would be incumbent on the state based on the Common Core State Standards Initiative.")
• "Resolution on Digital Learning" (Presented by Sen. Rich Crandall of Arizona) (This resolution proposes adoption of "the Digital Learning Council’s 10 Elements of High Quality Digital Learning" and requests "that the Elements shall be incorporated as necessary though future legislation as well as immediate state regulation, strategic planning, guidelines and/or procedures on the part of the [State Education Agency], local education agencies, and any other relevant public or private bodies.")
• "Charter School Growth with Quality Act" (Presented by David Hansen, National Association of Charter School Authorizers) (This proposal seeks to "expand quality public education opportunities for all children by establishing a state public charter school commission to serve as an independent statewide charter authorizer.")
• "Taxpayers’ Savings Grants Act" (Presented by Marc Oestreich, Heartland Institute) (This proposal "establishes a program by which willing residents can opt to receive less public funding for their child’s education, in order to take that funding to a private school. The difference in the amount slated for that child and the amount of the Savings Grant will be considered taxpayer savings and not allotted to any other program.")
• "Free Enterprise Education Act" (Presented by Roberta Zenn Phillips, U.S. Chamber of Commerce) (This proposal "mandates instruction in the free enterprise system, a course that requires an interdisciplinary study of economics, political science, history, geography, culture, and current events. This Act requires a stand-alone course in the free enterprise system that lasts at least one semester and a passing grade in order to receive a certificate or diploma of graduation.")

2011 ALEC Spring Task Force Summit Substantive Agenda

The following model bills were proposed at the Ohio conference:

• "Higher Education Transparency Act", (Sponsored by Michael Poliakoff, American Council of Trustees and Alumni) (This proposal seeks to require "a public institution of higher education to establish uniform standards to make certain information available on the Internet." Some of the required information includes: course syllabi, instructor CVs, departmental budget information, grade distributions.)

• "Performance Audit Act", (Sponsored by Harry Stille, Evergreen Freedom Foundation) (This proposal seeks "to allows parents to use the funds that would have been allocated to their child at their resident school district for an education program of the parents’ choosing.")

• "Education Savings Account Act", (Sponsored by Scott Jensen, American Federation for Children) (This proposal states that "[p]ublic higher education institutions function totally from the state appropriations (taxpayer), student tuition and fees, gifts from donors, awards for research and auxiliary funds or gifts through those operations. It is imperative that these public funds expended are accounted for in open transparency form to allow the general public and students to see both the income and expenditures for which they are paying. This Act would define the scope for outcome-based higher education audits in part by seeking answers to questions relating to institutions’ missions, structures, costs, and overall academic results. This would create an open accounting for these public funds and their efficient use in performance of the services of these public institutions for the public benefit.")

2004 ALEC States and Nation Policy Summit Substantive Agenda

According to a February 2005 archive of ALEC's website:

"Since the 2004 Annual Meeting, several legislators teamed up with the Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation, the Alliance for School Choice, the Institute for Justice, K12, and Connections Academy to form the School Choice Subcommittee. This Subcommittee met at the States and Nation Policy Summit and recommended six strong model bills: Virtual Public Schools Act; Great Schools Tax Credit Program; Parental Choice Scholarship Program (Means-tested Eligibility – Sliding-scale Scholarship Amounts); Parental Choice Scholarship Program (Universal Eligibility—One Scholarship Amount); Special Needs Scholarship Program; and Family Education Tax Credit Program (Combination of Scholarship Tax Credits and Tuition Tax Credits). The full Education Task Force passed all of these model bills unanimously.

"The Education Task Force owes a particular debt of gratitude to Wisconsin Representative Scott Jensen for his leadership as the School Choice Subcommittee Chairman and to Robert Enlow, the Task Force’s public sector chairman, for their vision and diligent work on these model bills. This legislation is certain to become the foundation of the school choice movement nationwide, due in great part to the work of Representative Jensen and Mr. Enlow.

"The Education Task Force also welcomed Mickey Revenaugh of Connections Academy to her first States and Nation Policy Summit as a private sector member. Before coming to her first ALEC meeting, Ms. Revenaugh hit the ground running by working with Colorado Representative Don Lee, Bryan Flood of K12, and the rest of the Subcommittee by helping craft the Virtual Schools Act. "

2002 ALEC States and Nation Policy Summit Substantive Agenda

According to a February 2005 archive of ALEC's website:

"The Task Force had a very successful meeting as the guest speakers addressed a standing-room-only crowd. Jeanne Allen from the Center for Education Reform spoke on the need for charter school options and how state legislators must pass laws to give these schools the autonomy they need to be successful. Ron Packard, CEO and Founder of K12, shared the overwhelming positive results of his virtual charter school program. Lori Yaklin from the U.S. Department of Education discussed the choice provisions in H.R. 1, the "No Child Left Behind Act." Dr. Edward Gordon continued the discussion by addressing how to develop state guidelines for supplemental service providers. Finally, Jennifer Mendez of the Carpet and Rug Institute talked about the need to pass legislation or a resolution to create healthy school environments. In addition, the Task Force reported favorably on the Teacher Quality and Recognition Demonstration Act. This legislation permits school districts flexibility in the creation of new programs designed to attract and retain the highest quality in educators."

Co-chairs

• Rep. Greg Forristall (R-IA), Public Sector Chair
• Jonathan Butcher, Goldwater Institute

The Goldwater Institute is a conservative Arizona-based "think tank" and member of the State Policy Network (SPN). It is also an affiliate of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity. Jonathan Butcher, Goldwater's Education Director, sponsored "model" legislation (the "District and School Freedom Act") at the 2012 ALEC Spring Task Force Summit. The model bill was adopted and sent to the board for approval. Butcher also sponsored the "Resolution Opposing the Implementation of the Common Core State Standards Initiative" during the K–12 Education Reform Subcommittee Meeting of the task force during ALEC's 38th annual meeting. In 2010, Matt Ladner represented Goldwater on the Education Task Force. He sponsored the "A-Plus Literacy Act" during the education meeting of the 2010 States and Nation Policy Summit. The bill was passed by the public and private sectors unanimously.

Former Co-chairs

• David Casas (R-GA), Public Sector Chair
• Mickey Revenaugh (Co-Founder and Senior Vice President of State Relations, Connections Academy), Private Sector Chair

Connections Academy is a division of Connections Education LLC, a private school based in Baltimore, MD that offers free online public school through contracts with charter schools, school districts, or governmental entities. Pearson purchased Connections Education from Apollo Management, L.P. in 2011. The contracted schools have a higher graduation rate than some online schools, but still lower than traditional public schools. Sylvan Ventures started Connections Academy in 2001. The company started its first schools in 2001, and in 2004, Connections Academy was sold to Apollo Management, L.P.

• Lisa Gillis (Director of Government Affairs and School Development for Insight Schools, Inc., now part of K12 Inc.), Private Sector Chair of the Education Task Force’s Special Needs Subcommittee

Subcommittees

• Charter School Working Group
• K-12 Education Reform Subcommittee
• Higher Education Subcommittee
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education
• Special Needs Subcommittee
• Subcommittee on Science Fraud in the Classroom (or Subcommittee on Junk Science)
• School Choice Subcommittee
• Working Group on Transparency (joint with the Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force

Individuals

Corporate, Trade or Other Groups

• Alliance for School Choice
• American Principles Project (new as of 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting)
• Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities (APSCU, formerly the Career College Association, the for-profit schools trade association)
• Bridgepoint Education (a for-profit education services holding company which owns for-profit, online and land-based Ashford University and University of the Rockies), terminated membership on April 16, 2013, according to an ALEC document. See Corporations that Have Cut Ties to ALEC for more.
• Connections Academy - has been a member, but a spokesperson told the Center for Media and Democracy in July 2012 that the company had cut ties with ALEC in order to align "our affiliations with organizations whose central focus is education." See Corporations Which Have Cut Ties to ALEC and ALEC Corporations for more.
• Corinthian Colleges (owns and manages a collection of for-profit career-oriented colleges in the United States and Canada including Everest College and Everest University, Heald College and WyoTech). According to a July 4, 2014 LA Times article, "As part of an agreement late Thursday with the U.S. Department of Education, Santa Ana-based Corinthian will sell 85 of its campuses and wind down operations at 12 others."
• Dell, Inc. (new as of 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting)
• Foundation for Excellence in Education (new as of 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting)
• Freedom Foundation
• Heartland Institute, Member, K-12 Education Reform Subcommittee
• Higher Education Research / Policy Center
• Illinois Policy Institute
• Independence Institute
• Innosight Institute (in its own words, "a not-for-profit, non-partisan think tank whose mission is to apply Harvard Business School Professor Clayton M. Christensen’s theories of disruptive innovation to develop and promote solutions to the most vexing problems in the social sector")
• Institute for Justice Arizona Chapter
• International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL, the online schools trade association)
• John Locke Foundation
• K12, Inc. (the nation's largest provider of online charter schools)
• Insight Schools, Inc. (now a division of K12)
• Kaplan Higher Education (a for-profit education subsidiary of the Washington Post Company that announced in April 2012 it had cut ties to ALEC)
• Lumina Foundation for Education
• National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA), Member, K-12 Education Reform Subcommittee
• National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) - announced in April 2012 that it had "decided to discontinue engagement with ALEC"
• National Heritage Academies (a for-profit charter school management organization headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a collection of 67 charter schools in the eight states and a separate network of college preparatory high schools)
• News Corporation (Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., which owns the Wall Street Journal, Fox News, and others, and whose education division is called "Amplify")
• Ohio University
• Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (new as of 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting)
• Oklahoma Policy Solutions
• Pacific Research Institute
• Scantron (for-profit educational testing and online tutoring company)
• State Policy Network (SPN, national network of state think tanks) Center for Education Excellence
• Step Up For Students/ Florida Education Freedom Foundation
• Texas Public Policy Foundation (a State Policy Network affiliate) - Dr. Thomas Lindsay, Director of Goldwater's Center for Higher Education, is vice chairman of the Higher Education Subcommittee of the task force as of November 2013.
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform (new as of 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting), Member, K-12 Education Reform Subcommittee
• U.S. Chamber Campaign for Free Enterprise
• Washington Policy Center Center for Education Reform
• Wireless Generation (a for-profit online education, software and testing corporation), member 2007-2009, listed as new ALEC member in 2012, (the company denies this). The company was acquired by ALEC member News Corporation in 2010, and as of 2013 has been folded-in to News Corp's "Amplify" education division.

Politicians

• Nancy Spence (R-CO), Former Public Sector Chair
• Rep. Tyler August (R-32), Member
• Rep. Sondra L. Erickson (R), Member
• Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-36B), Member
• Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-20), Member
• Rep. Dean Knudson (R-30), Alternate
• Rep. Howard Marklein (R-51), Member
• Rep. Carol McFarlane (R-53B), Alternate
• Sen. Gen Olson (R - 33), Member and former State Chair
• Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-52), Alternate
• Rep. Evan Wynn (R-43), Alternate
• Rep. Wes Keller (AK R-14)
• Rep. Mike A. Ball (AL R-10), Member
• Rep. Chad Fincher (AL R-102), Alternate
• Rep. Rusty Glover (AL R-34), Member
• Rep. John Robinson (AL D-23), Member
• Rep. John Daniel Burris (AR R-85), Alternate
• Rep. Les V. Carnine (AR R-94), Member
• Rep. Karen Hopper (AR R-81), Alternate
• Senate Majority Whip John Huppenthal (AZ R-20)
• Rep. Donna J. Hutchinson (AR R-98), Alternate
• Rep. Steve Court (AZ R-18, Majority Leader), Member
• Rep. Chester Crandell (AZ R-5), Member
• Rep. John Fillmore (AZ R-23), Member
• Rep. Doris Goodale (AZ R-3), Member
• Sen. Albert A. Melvin (AZ R-26), Member
• Rep. Amanda A. Reeve (AZ R-6), Member
• Sen. Rich Crandall (AZ R-19), Member
• Sen. Eddie Joe Williams (AR R-28), Member
• Sen. Jimmy L. Jeffress (AR D-24), Member
• Rep. Carole R. Murray (CO R-45), Member
• Sen. Nancy Spence (CO R-27), former co-chair
• Sen. Keith C. King (CO R-12), Member
• Rep. Michael Molgano (CT R-125), Member
• Rep. Timothy LeGeyt (CT R-17), Member
• Sen. Anitere Flores (FL R-38), Member
• Rep. Kelli Stargel (FL R-64), Member
• Rep. David S. Casas (GA R-103), Member
• Rep. Mike Dudgeon (GA R-24), Member
• Sen. Greg Goggans (GA R-7), Member
• Sen. Johnny Grant (GA R-25), Alternate
• Rep. Jan Jones (GA R-46), Member
• Rep. Howard R. Maxwell (GA R-17), Member
• Sen. Fran R. Millar (GA R-79), Member
• Senate President Pro Tempore Tommie A. Williams (GA R-19), Member
• Rep. Scott C. Bedke (ID R-27A), Member
• Rep. Darrell Bolz (ID R-10B), Alternate
• Rep. Janice K. McGeachin (ID R-32A), Alternate
• Rep. Peter Nielsen (ID R-22), Member
• Rep. Bob P. Nonini (ID R-5), Member
• Rep. Roger L. Eddy (IL R-109), Member
• Sen. David Luechtefeld (IL R-58), Member
• Rep. Jerry Lee Mitchell (IL R-90), Member
• Rep. Sandra M. Pihos (IL R-96), Member
• Rep. Cindy J. Noe (IN R-87), Member
• Rep. David Yarde, II (IN R-52), Member
• Sen. Carlin J. Yoder (IN R-12), Member
• Sen. Nancy J. Boettger (IA R-29), Member
• Rep. Greg Forristall (IA R-98), Member
• Rep. Mary Ann Hanusa (IA R-99), Member
• Rep. Kevin Koester (IA R-70), Member
• Rep. Terry Calloway (KS R-3), Member
• Rep. Steve Huebert (KS R-90), Member
• Sen. Bob Marshall (KS R-13), Member
• Rep. Joe McLeland (KS R-94), Alternate
• Rep. Marc C. Rhoades (KS R-72), Member
• Sen. David P. Givens (KY R-9), Member
• Rep. Jimmy Higdon (KY R-14), Member
• Sen. Vernie D. McGaha (KY R-15), Member
• Rep. Brad Montell (KY R-58), Member
• Rep. F.L. (Ben) Waide (KY R-10), Member
• Sen. Jack Westwood (KY R-23), Alternate
• Sen. Kenneth W. Winters (KY R-1), Member
• Rep. Addia K. Wuchner (KY R-66), Member
• Rep. Jill York (KY R-96), Member
• Rep. Joe Harrison, (LA R-51), Member
• Rep. Frank Hoffmann (LA R-15), Member
• Rep. Walter Leger, III (LA D-91), Member
• Sen. Ben Wayne Nevers, Sr. (LA D-12), Member
• Sen. Brian D. Langley (ME R-28), Member
• Del. Kathy Afzali (MD R-4A), Member
• Del. William J. Frank (MD R-42), Member
• Del. Nancy R. Stocksdale (MD R-5A), Member
• Rep. Sondra L. Erickson (MN R-16A), Member
• Rep. Pat Garofalo (MN R-36B), Member
• Rep. Carol McFarlane (MN R-53B), Alternate
• Sen. Gen Olson (MN R - 33), former State Chair and Education Task Force Member
• Rep. Harvey A. Fillingane (MS R-101), Member
• Rep. Noal Akins (MS R-12), Member
• Rep. Herbert D. Frierson (MS R-106), Member
• Rep. Scott Bounds (MS R-44), Member
• Sen. Doug E. Davis (MS R-1), Member
• Sen. Fredie Videt Carmichael (MS R-46), Member
• Rep. Eric Burlison (MO R-136), Member
• Sen. Jane D. Cunningham (MO R-7), Member
• Rep. Scott D. Dieckhaus (MO R-109), Member
• Majority Floor Leader Timothy Jones (MO R-89), State Chairman, Member
• Rep. Mike Kelley (MO R-126), Member
• Rep. Mark W. Blasdel (MT R-10), Member
• Sen. Verdell Jackson (MT R-5), Member
• Rep. Scott M. Reichner (MT R-9), Alternate
• Rep. Dan D Skattum (MT R-62), Member
• Sen. Pete Pirsch (NE 4), Member
• Sen. John M. Wightman (NE 36), Member
• Sen. Barbara Cegavske (NV R-8), ALEC State Chairman and Education Task Force Member
• Sen. Don G. Gustavson (NV R-2), Member
• Sen. Maurice E. Washington (NV R-2), Member
• Rep. Dan McGuire (NH R-8), Member
• Rep. Kris Edward Roberts (NH D-3), Member
• Rep. Will Smith (NH R-18), Member
• Rep. Alonzo Baldonado (NM R-8), Member
• Sen. Mark L. Boitano (NM R-18), Member
• Sen. Gay G. Kernan (NM R-42), Member
• Rep. Dennis Roch (NM R-67), Member
• Rep. Bryan R. Holloway (NC R-91), Alternate
• Rep. Linda P. Johnson (NC R-83), Member
• Sen. Donald Ray Vaughan (NC D-27), Member
• Sen. Tom Apodaca (NC R-48), Member
• Rep. Brenda A. Heller (ND R-33), Alternate
• Sen. Karen K. Krebsbach (ND R-40), Alternate
• House Speaker David Monson (ND R-10), Alternate
• Rep. Lisa M. Meier (ND R-32), Member
• Rep. David S. Rust (ND R-2), Alternate
• Sen. Rich P. Wardner (ND R-37), Member
• Rep. Julie Harhart (PA R-183), Member
• Rep. Sandra J. Major (PA R-111), Member
• Rep. Kathy L. Rapp (PA R-65), Member
• Rep. Nan A. Baker (OH R-16), Alternate
• Rep. John A. Carey, Jr. (OH R-87), Alternate
• Rep. Cliff Hite (OH R-1), Member
• Rep. Gerald L. Stebelton (OH R-5), Member
• Rep. Kristina D. Roegner (OH R-42), Member
• Rep. Marlene Anielski (OH R-17), Member
• Rep. Jabar Shumate (D-73), Alternate
• Rep. Ann Coody (OK R-64), Member
• Rep. Lee R. Denney (OK R-33), Member
• Sen. John W. Ford (OK R-29), State Chairman and Education Task Force Member
• Rep. Sally R. Kern (OK R-84), Alternate
• Sen. Jim Reynolds (OK R-43), Alternate
• Rep. John Huffman (OR R-59), Member
• Rep. Sherrie Sprenger (OR R-17), Member
• Rep. Matt M. Wingard (OR R-26), member
• Sen. James E. Doyle, II (RI D-8), Member
• Sen. Hanna M. Gallo (RI D-27), Member
• Sen. Beatrice A. Lanzi (RI D-26), Member
• House Majority Whip Joseph A. Trillo (RI R-24), Alternate
• Rep. George M. Hearn (SC R-105), Member
• Rep. Phillip D. Owens (SC R-5), Member
• Rep. Phil M. Jensen (SD R-33), Alternate
• Rep. James H. Merrill (SC R-99), Member
• Rep. Tad Perry (SD R-24), Member
• Sen. Todd J. Schlekeway (SD R-11), Member
• Rep. Jacqueline Sly (SD R-33), Member
• Rep. Kevin D. Brooks (TN R-24), Alternate
• Rep. Harry R. Brooks, Jr. (TN R-19), Member
• Sen. Dolores R. Gresham (TN R-26), Alternate
• Rep. Phillip Max Johnson (TN R-78), Member
• Rep. Ron Lollar (TN R-99), Alternate
• Sen. Randy McNally (TN R-5), Alternate
• Rep. John D. Ragan (TN R-33), Alternate
• Sen. Jim Tracy (TN R-16), Member
• Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock (TX R-54), Alternate
• Rep. Rob Eissler (TX R-15), Member
• Rep. Daniel H. Branch (TX R-108), Member
• Rep. Geanie W. Morrison (TX R-30), Alternate
• Rep. Diane Patrick (TX R-94), Alternate
• Sen. Florence D. Shapiro (TX R-18), Member
• Sen. Margaret Dayton (UT R-15), Member
• Rep. Keith Grover (UT R-61), Member
• House Majority Whip Greg H. Hughes (UT R-51), Member
• Sen. Scott K. Jenkins (UT R-20). Alternate
• Rep. Merlynn T. Newbold (UT R-50), Member
• Sen. Howard A. Stephenson (UT R-11), Member
• Rep. Kenneth W. Sumsion (UT R-56), Alternate
• Del. Robert Tata (VA R-85), Member
• Del. Marvin Kirkland Cox (VA R-66), Member
• Del. Mark L. Cole (VA R-88), Member
• Del. R. Steven Landes (VA R-25), Alternate
• Sen. Stephen D. Newman (VA R-23), Member
• Sen. Randolph D. Brock (VT R-Franklin), Member
• Rep. Howard T. Crawford (VT R-4), Member
• Rep. Duncan F. Kilmartin (VT R-2), Member
• Rep. Glenn Anderson (WA R-5), Member
• Rep. Kevin W. Van De Wege (WA D-24), Member
• Rep. Kevin Parker (WA R-6), Member
• Sen. Randi Becker (WA R-2), Member
• Speaker Jonathan R. Miller (WV D-17), member
• Del. John Overington (WV R-55), Member
• Rep. Tyler August (WI R-32), Member
• Sen. Glenn Grothman (WI R-20), Member
• Rep. Dean Knudson (WI R-30), Alternate
• Rep. Howard Marklein (WI R-51), Member
• Rep. Stephen L. Nass (WI R-31), Member
• Rep. John Nygren (WI R-89), Member
• Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt (WI R-52), Alternate
• Rep. Evan Wynn (WI R-43), Alternate
• Sen. James Anderson (WY R-2), Member
• Sen. Henry H. Coe (WY R-18), Member
• Rep. John Eklund, Jr. (WY R-10), Member
• Rep. Allen M. Jaggi (WY R-18), Member
• Rep. Tom Lubnau (WY R-31), Member
• Rep. Matt Teeters (WY R-5), Member
• Rep. Sue Wallis (WY R-52), Alternate

Other Named Individuals

• Rita Pin Ahrens (Policy Advisor, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and Alliance for Excellent Education) presented on "National Board's Turnaround Initiative to Grow Great Schools" at the Education Task Force Meeting at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting
• Stanton D. Anderson (Senior Counsel to the President and Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Chamber of Commerce) issued remarks on the "Free Enterprise Education Act" model legislation at the Education Task Force meeting of the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting
• Jonathan Butcher (Education Director, Goldwater Institute) introduced the "Comprehensive Legislative Package Opposing the Common Core State Standards Initiative" at the Education Task Force K-12 Education Reform Subcommittee Meeting at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting
• Robert Enlow (President and CEO, Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice), Former Private Sector Chair
• Liv Finne (Director, Washington Policy Center Center for Education)
• David Hansen (Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA)) sponsored discussion and voting on the "Charter School Growth with Quality Act" at the Education Task Force Meeting at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting
• Michael Horn (co-founder and Executive Director, Education, Innosight Institute) presented on "Disrupting Class" at the Education Task Force Meeting at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting
• Matthew Ladner (Vice President of Research, Goldwater Institute)
• Emmett McGroarty (Director of Preserve Innocence, American Principles Project) introduced the "Comprehensive Legislative Package Opposing the Common Core State Standards Initiative" at the Education Task Force K-12 Education Reform Subcommittee Meeting at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting
• Mark Oestreich (legislative specialist on education and telecommunications, Heartland Institute) sponsored discussion and voting on the "Taxpayers' Savings Grants Act" at the Education Task Force Meeting at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting
• Roberta Philips (U.S. Chamber of Commerce) sponsored discussion and voting on the "Free Enterprise Education Act" at the Education Task Force Meeting and introduced the "Free Enterprise Education Act" at the K-12 Education Reform Subcommittee Meeting at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting
• Dr. Judith Reisman, Science Advisor, Education Task Force Subcommittee on Science Fraud in the Classroom
• Bob Wise (Chairman, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and Alliance for Excellent Education) presented on "National Board's Turnaround Initiative to Grow Great Schools" at the Education Task Force Meeting at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting

Individuals Formerly Listed as Having Ties to the Task Force

• Rep. Gail Lavielle (CT R-143) attended the 2011 Annual Meeting in New Orleans and was listed by ALEC as a member of the Education Task Force, but a letter from ALEC's Public Affairs Senior Director explains that with the exception of her attendance at that meeting, for which she "did not seek reimbursement," Rep. Lavielle has "had no interaction with the organization or any of its Task Forces, staff or members." She was not a member as of June 2013 or May 2014.

Staff

• Lindsay Russell, current Director
• David Myslinski, former Director
• Monica Mastracco, Legislative Assistant
• Jeff William Reed, Former Director