April 29, 2010
States Are Racing!
Just added - see our 3 new Race Smarter briefs: MA, MI, and NJ.
-----------------------------------------------------
The Race to the Top Phase 2 application filing deadline is June 1st. Many states, some that applied in Phase 1 and some that did not, have begun to step up legislative, regulatory, and planning action in anticipation. States must send an intent to file for Phase 2 to the U.S. Department of Education by May 4th.
We have re-launched our Race to the Top deadline countdown clock and a series of state-specific Race Smarter briefs at http://www.dfer.org/list/issues/racesmarter/.
Here is the first of a series of weekly updates on state activity. Special thanks to our crack staff, especially Charlie Barone, federal policy director and occasional DFER disc jockey:
Arizona: Despite coming in 40th out of 41 states in Phase 1, Governor Jan Brewer announced today that the state would re-apply in Phase 2. The state seems to be doubly challenged, as it is coming off a toxic legislative run in which it passed a a law that encourages racial profiling of suspected legal immigrants and, in what can only be interpreted as a nod to tea partiers and Obama-hating birthers, a law that requires Presidential candidates to show that they are "constitutionally eligible" for office. The state says it will focus a large part of its efforts on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, toward building the state's 21st century economic competitiveness.
Buena suerte.
California: Disheartened by a 27th place finish in Phase 1, the state almost decided not to apply in Phase 2 but, partly at the urging of Secretary Arne Duncan and team, is back in. The state will submit a Phase 2 application that focuses largely on three school districts: Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Fresno. It's a creative approach. The tack seems to suggest the state will try to earn points through boldness rather statewide buy-in, although LAUSD does have a larger school enrollment than about half of the fifty states. Long Beach has received national recognition for its efforts to boost teacher effectiveness and L.A., under the leadership of Superintendent Ramon Cortines, has launched a number of nascent reform efforts. The $700 million in possible Phase 2 funds is no small consideration for the state given its dire budget situation.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0428-lausd-20100428,0,7590412.story?page=1
http://www.dailynews.com/ci_14972606?source=most_emailed
Colorado: A bill to strengthen teacher evaluation and reform tenure, sponsored by State Senator Mike Johnston (D-Denver) is moving through the state legislature. Like other states that have competed well in the Great Teachers and Leaders category, the proposed policy would base teacher evaluation at least 50% on student achievement. The bill has the support of Governor Ritter and a broad coalition of child advocacy, education reform groups, and business groups, but faces stiff opposition from teachers' unions.
Colorado finished 14th out of the 16 finalists so the Johnston bill would likely take Colorado from being marginally competitive for Phase 2 to being highly competitive. For our Race Smarter analysis of Colorado's Phase 1 application and prospects for Phase 2, click below.
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_14953971
http://www.dfer.org/docs/CO%20Race%20Smarter%20Brief.pdf
Connecticut: The state is racing against the clock to pass key reforms needed to be competitive in Phase 2 before the close of the legislative session on May 6th. The state ranked 25th out of the 41 states that applied in Phase 1, so without new laws and regulations, it seems unlikely that the state would be among the 10-15 winners expected in RTT's second round. Just today, the co-chairs of of the Connecticut Assembly Committee released the education reform bill SB 438. According to ConnCan, the bill creates a data system that links students to their teachers and teachers to their training programs, creates alternative pathways for our most talented classroom teachers to become principals, and removes charter school caps.ConnCan, however, expressed doubts that SB 438 can get the state over the RTT finish line, as it does not contain key reforms such as evaluating teachers based in part on student achievement or more equitably funding charter schools.
http://www.bristolpress.com/articles/2010/04/23/opinion/doc4bd23dbb43fbd191626908.txt
http://www.ctmirror.org/story/5346/race-top-33010
Florida: After vetoing a teacher evaluation and tenure reform bill that would have improved the state's chances significantly in Phase 2, Governor Crist appointed a working group to revise the state's plan. Members include the FEA President and the Teacher of the Year, from Hillsborough County, among several others. The group is slated to finish its work by the end of this week.
How Crist's bid as an independent for the open U.S. Senate seat will impact his policies and his ability to work across party lines to improve the state's chances for Phase 2 are as yet unclear. Florida lost the greatest number of points on the Great Teachers and Leaders category. Unless Crist and his working group succeed in making its teacher and principal evaluation plan more robust, it will be difficult for Florida to improve its ranking vis a vis other states. For our full analysis, on the link to our FL Race Smarter brief below.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/28/charlie-crist-for-florida_n_555412.html
http://www.dfer.org/docs/FL%20Race%20Smarter%20Brief.pdf
Georgia: Although a merit pay proposal is for all intents and purposes dead, Phase 1 first runner-up Georgia is still racing against the legislative clock to put into law a new teacher evaluation system before finalizing its Phase 2 application. While Georgia scored well in Phase 1, there are questions about the reliability of that score predicting its Phase 2 success because the score was significantly inflated by one outlier reviewer who seemed to be a huge Georgia fan. For our Race Smarter analysis of Georgia, click below.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/ap/busy-ga-lawmakers-near-sessions-end-92226619.html
http://www.dfer.org/docs/GA%20Race%20Smarter%20Brief.pdf
Indiana: State Superintendent Bennett announced last week that the state would not apply for a Phase 2 grant. The state teachers' union vehemently opposes key elements of the state's plan, including a provision to base teacher evaluations 51% on student achievement. Several other states have implemented similar provisions, including Phase 1 grantee Tennessee, whose state capital is about a 4 hour drive south down Route 65 from Indianapolis. Bennett said he plans to pursue many of his proposed reforms anyway, without the Race to the Top money, so it could be a lose-lose for the teachers' union in the long run.
http://tribstar.com/news/x563631563/Indiana-decides-not-to-apply-for-Race-to-the-Top-funds
Maine: The state, which sat out Phase 1, is focused on developing a plan for evaluating teachers. Two plans are under consideration. One (The Teacher Advancement Program) uses a combination of peer review and student achievement as a factors in evaluating and paying teachers. The other, which would seem to be a path to failure in gaining a Phase 2 award, but which is currently in use in the state, would rely primarily on inputs like "planning and preparation" and "classroom environment." The state's six-member RTT taskforce has set a May 14 deadline for its decision.
http://www.pressherald.com/news/teacher-evaluation-task-force-gets-busy_2010-04-26.html
Maryland: The state released a draft of its application which emphasized college and career readiness, a more robust teacher and principal preparation and evaluation system, and its "Breakthrough Center" approach to to turning around low-performing schools. State superintendent Nancy Grasmick has proposed the state go above and beyond the new teacher evaluation law passed by the legislature last month and has drafter a regulation that would require teacher evaluations to be based at least 50% on student achievement gains, as were top scoring states in Phase 1.
Maryland did not apply in Phase 1, so its entry in June could shake up the competition, especially if Grasmick's proposals on teacher evaluation are adopted.
http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/programs/race_to_the_top
Massachusetts: AFT Massachusetts, the second largest teachers union in the state, will boycott the state application. In an April 15th Boston Globe article, AFTM President Thomas Gosnell said "There is an attitude that teachers are responsible for what's happening in those schools and unions are responsible for students not achieving at the levels we like in those schools." Um, yeah. As quoted in the Wall Street Journal last July, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said he was "fed up with opposition from the Boston Teachers Union." "I'm just tired of it," he said. "We're losing kids."
The state did pass some robust reforms prior to its Phase 1 application, and garnered 13th place. Could the state win without 100% union support in Phase 2? We think so. Look for our Race Smarter brief on our web page on Monday.
Minnesota: Some real curious goings on in Minnesota over the last week or two. Hoping to move forward from a middle-of-the-pack score in Phase 1 (20th out of 41) Governor Pawlenty has proposed a package of reforms that includes, similar to high-scoring states: merit pay, more rigorous teacher evaluation based on student achievement, expansion of alternative teacher certification, and tenure reform. Pawlenty has blamed the state teachers union for blocking change and for having undue influence over legislators, which the union denies. And yet. At a recent Race to the Top hearing, union President Tom Dooher was seated at the same table as the legislators, rather than with other witnesses, which observers claimed they had never seen in the history of the MN legislature. Now there's real partnership at work.
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/04/20/dooher-education-pawlenty/
New York: After failing to get its act together in time for the Round 1 deadling, the Legislature is considering whether or not to try to lift the cap that is currently preventing new charter schools. Senate action on a cap lift bill is imminent, but resistence is expected in the Assembly, where the teachers union has historically had near veto power over pretty much everything. The State Education Department, after being embarassed by press reports that their Round 1 application included thousands of dollars for "executive chairs" is expected to put together a more serious application for Round 2, including controversial changes to teacher licensure requirements. But New York will not be competitive with other states without legislative action.
http://www.dfer.org/docs/NY%20Race%20Smarter%20Brief.pdf
Ohio: In the hope of securing a maximum number of MOUs with schools and districts, state officials have issued a funding formula whereby each school would get a minimum amount of money if the state earns a Phase 2 grant award. Each traditional school would be awarded $100,000 and each charter school $25,000. The Ohio Alliance of Public Charter Schools has urged its members to support the state's proposal.
Ohio finished in 10th place in RTT Phase 1. Our Ohio Race Smarter Brief, touted in recent Ohio newspaper articles and editorials argues, among other things, that the state could face a more competitive environment in Phase 2. Click below to see the full brief. You can also hear
ERN Executive Director Van Schoales' comments from a report on Ohio Public Radio at the link below.
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/04/19/edmoney.html
http://www.ohio.com/editorial/opinions/92286954.html
http://www.dfer.org/docs/OH%20Race%20Smarter%20Brief.pdf
http://www.statenews.org/story_page.cfm?ID=13910&year=2010&month=4
Rhode Island: The Ocean state has spent the month of April building support for its Phase 2 application after a strong Phase 1 8th place finish, and a notable 2nd place in the Great Teachers and Leaders category. The challenge for the state will be to keep these elements of its application strong as it builds support for Round 2. In a recent appearance on Rhode Island Public Radio, DFER federal policy director Charlie Barone cautioned the state against watering down its strong provisions on teacher quality and suggested it should instead tout new elements of its plan, such as its recently passed groundbreaking state charter school law.
The state can add star power to its Phase 2 strengths: Time magazine just named Commissioner Deborah Gist as one of its the 100 most influential people. For our RI Race Smarter brief, click on the link below.
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984745_1985480,00.html
http://www.wrni.org/content/ri-prepares-round-two-race-top
http://www.wrni.org/content/ri-prepares-round-two-race-top
http://www.dfer.org/docs/RI%20Race%20Smarter%20Brief.pdf
Tennessee: Turns out funds from the state's Phase 1 grant will be targeted heavily on poor communities, toward its goal of closing achievement gaps. Forty percent of funds sent to locals will go to metropolitan Nashville and Memphis.
Vermont: The state announced that it would not be applying for a Phase 2 grant because it did not think it could make the changes necessary in policy and law to compete successfully. The lack of a state charter school law, and of any intent to enact one, was cited as one key reason the state chose not to apply. Vermont is one of 10 states that did not apply in Phase 1.
http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/87874/
West Virginia: After finishing near the bottom of the pack in Phase 1, ranking 36th out of 41 states, West Virginia is struggling to come up with a reform plan that would make it competitive in Phase 2. The state lost significant points due to the lack of a state charter school authorizing law but has given up on that front - Sen. Erik Wells, (D-Kanawha) introduced a charter school bill in the 2010 legislative session, but withdrew it after teachers unions' threatened to oppose in the Fall elections any state legislator that voted for it. Instead, the state is proposing something it calls "charter innovation zones" though its unclear how these would differ from traditional public schools. None of the other policies being put forward by the state at present would seem to be of the bold and ambitious type that would jettison it into the top tier in Phase 2.
http://www.statejournal.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=78672
