The Dissolution of the National Partnership for Excellence and Accountability in Teaching

Problem statement: A heralded federal imitative known as The National Partnership of Excellence in Education (NPEAT), dissolved shortly after being formed. An analysis of some causes of the unexpected dissolution of NPEAT focuses on six causes (1) compromises in the initial competition for the partnership, (2) the funding mechanism as grant or contract, (3) the behavioral trap of sunk costs, (4) the confirmation bias over the NCTAF agenda, (5) confusion over mission as implementation or inquiry and (6) the nature of a partnership itself. Conclusion: Lessons for the invention of future national partnerships for the reform of teaching are discussed such as No child left behind or Race to the top.