Blank Rome Lobbyists Sign Education Advocacy Group

A New York-based education advocacy organization chaired by News Corp. Executive Vice President Joel Klein signed Blank Rome Government Relations to lobby the federal government on its behalf, according to paperwork filed with Congress Friday.

Education Reform Now, which advocates for equal access to quality public education, hired the lobbying shop to represent it on matters concerning education reform and the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, most recently renewed in 2002 under the No Child Left Behind Act. The law requires states to establish goals for improving student achievement and provides funds to schools that have a large number of students from low-income families.

Blank Rome Government Relations Principal Dwayne Andrews and Partner Singleton McAllister are handling the Education Reform Now account. Andrews also is lobbying this year on behalf of other education groups, including service provider EdisonLearning and Tutor Our Children, which advocates for free tutoring.

Blank Rome Government Relations is a Washington subsidiary of the Philadelphia-based law firm Blank Rome.

Andrews and McAllister didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Education Reform Now President Joe Williams said his organization is focused more on building relationships in Washington than on reauthorizing No Child Left Behind.

“We thought the time was right to jump in,” he said.

Klein became the chairman of Education Reform Now earlier this year after serving as New York City Department of Education chancellor since 2002. He also began his job as News Corp. Educational Division CEO, executive vice president and board director in January.

News Corp. announced in July that the company's management and standards committee, which deals with inquiries and investigations related to the News of the World phone-hacking scandal, will report to Klein.

During the Clinton administration, he was an assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Antitrust Division and a deputy White House counsel.

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