A competition among states for more than $ 3 billion in federal education reform grants is called Race to the Top. Wednesday, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that 18 states and the District of Columbia as finalists within the competition’s second round. Finalists for instance California convinced various school district to cooperate with the grant application. In Nevada, which didn’t make the cut, politicians pointed fingers and called the program large government.
$ 3.4 billion at stake for Race to the Top finalists
Delaware and Tennessee received $ 100 million and $ 300 million respectively for winning the first round of Race to the Top in March. In the second phase, the Department of Education will hand out $ 3.4 billion for education reform. Race to the Top finalists are Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and South Carolina. In August each state will send representatives to compete within the interview phase of the competition. Winners of the second round of Race to the Top will be named in September.
Program motivates states to tackle education reform
In a speech to the National Press Club in Washington, Duncan called the program “part of a quiet revolution” in education reform when he announced the Race to the Top finalists. Race to the Top supporters say the biggest accomplishment of the program is that it motivates states to take on controversial reforms before spending any cash. To improve their chance of winning, education reform laws are passed in 23 states since Race to the Top was announced, as outlined by the Department of Education Reform.
California cooperates to advance
Race to the Top finalist California made the cut after placing 27th out of 40 within the first round. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that 300 school districts and county offices across the state endorsed the reforms outlined in its Race to the Top application. California’s application, which highlighted what districts are already doing to turn around struggling schools, evaluate and support teachers and principals, and measure student performance, was written by superintendents from seven school districts.
Nevada’s failing grade brings out the politicians
A consultant was paid $ 40,000 to write Nevada’s failing Race to the Top application. When Nevada failed to reach the finals, Fox News Las Vegas reported that politicians whipped out fingers of blame. Democratic Senator Harry Reid accused Republican Governor Jim Gibbons of a “lack of leadership”. Reid never “lifted a finger” to help his state compete, Gibbons said. Quite possibly though she wants less federal involvement in schools and has called for eliminating the Department of Education, right wing candidate for Senator Sharon Angle piled on Reid after Nevada was left out in the cold .
Additional reading
press.org
sfgate.com
fox5vegas.com
