July 27, 2010
Democrats for Education Reform Congratulates the 19 Race to the Top, Round 2 finalists
Democrats for Education Reform congratulates the 19 Race to the Top, Round 2 finalists - Arizona, California, Colorado, Washington, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and South Carolina.
These 19 states, as well as the rest of 46 that entered into the competition, finalist or not, deserve credit for the steps they made toward making their schools work better for children and parents.
Race to the Top (RttT) has affected more positive change in state and local education laws and policies than any other federal education program in history. It has mobilized policy-makers, principals and teachers to create the conditions that are needed to help schools meet high standards of excellence. Each state has taken its own unique route, yet the objective is common.
While not all states enacted the big changes we saw in states like Colorado, New York, Louisiana, and Rhode Island, the gains are nonetheless significant. Some states enacted solid reforms that are not revolutionary but take critical steps toward better teacher training and learning. Almost every state, with just a few exceptions, began to re-examine its education policies.
That process is ongoing and will not end with the announcement of the Round 2 finalists today or with the announcement of Round 2 winners in September. States and districts, teachers and parents, are still learning from each other about what's possible, from both a political and policy perspective.
Our education system didn't break overnight, and it will take more than one federal program and more than one 4-year grant cycle to fix it. What is indisputable, however, is that Race to the Top has put wind in the sails of the education reform movement and, in just a year and a half, has accelerated the pace of change more than any other past federal effort and much more than most of us dreamed possible.
Click "read more" below for "Race to the Top By the Numbers" and "Race to the Top Quotes" from key national, state, and local leaders.
Race to the Top By the Numbers
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) allotted $4.35 billion in the federal Race to the Top grant competition.
Only 2 states - Delaware ($100 million) and Tennessee ($500 million) - received grants in Round 1.
41 states, including the District of Columbia, applied to Round 1 of Race to the Top.
36 states, including the District of Columbia, applied to Round 2 of Race to the Top.
Only 4 states sat out both rounds of the federal competition: Texas, Alaska, North Dakota and Vermont.
23 states have passed reform laws in hopes of getting a piece of the prize money.
Standards and Assessments
48 states have signed on to the Common Core Standards Initiatives.
Assessments:
Three consortia are competing for the $350 million in Race to the Top funding to develop new tests tied to college and career ready standards that move beyond the crude "fill-in-the-bubble" approaches most states use now.
26 states have joined together to create the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC or Partnership).
The 26 PARCC states educate over 60 percent of the K-12 students in the United States
Public Charter Schools:
At least 13 states - Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Utah - have altered laws or policies to create or expand the number of public charter schools.
Teacher Quality:
5 of the 6 states that had "firewalls" barring student achievement data from being used in teacher evaluations repealed those laws: California, Wisconsin, Nevada, Maine, and Indiana. (New York simply let its law expire.)
At least 11 states - Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Tennessee - have enacted legislation that requires student achievement data to be used in teacher evaluation or tenure decisions.
Quotes on Race to the Top
"The ideas have gained currency at the national level ...What was seen as bold is now reform, not revolution." - Former Baltimore mayor Kurt L. Schmoke, dean of Howard University's law school, commenting on how the DC contract was part of Race to the Top zeitgeist, June 3, 2010 - The Washington Post
"As Superintendent of the largest school district in California, Race to the Top represents an opportunity for California to demonstrate true leadership and a commitment to working collaboratively in the interest of our students." - Ramon C. Cortines, superintendent, Los Angeles Unified School District, June 1, 2010 - Office of the Governor
"There are strong indications that Race to the Top is headed in the right direction. First, and perhaps most important, the number of states that have applied or expressed their intention to apply suggests that we have taken the first steps toward a national education policy." - Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, United Negro College Fund, March 29, 2010 - National Journal
"At a time when our schools are squeezed for money in this difficult economy, this is a remarkable opportunity to help students and teachers by bringing innovative and proven approaches into classrooms. The Department of Education has taken a significant step in giving educators the tools they need to address some of the most serious issues facing schools today." - Attorney Matthew Cregor, Southern Poverty Law SPLC's website, November 24, 2009 - Southern Poverty Law Center
"Race to the Top supports innovation, and too many of our schools are left without the resources needed to implement solid change, especially in our math and science programs." - Phil Brockman, president, Association of Washington School Principals, June 1, 2010 - Governor Chris Gregoire's Office
"We need to have our parents and communities rally around their schools, and spread the word across Florida that Race to the Top can provide our schools with additional dollars that can have a lasting impact on our children's learning environment and their future in a global world." - Karen Brown, president, Florida Parent Teacher Association, January 8, 2010 - The Gainesville Sun
"We've been very supportive of the [RttT] legislation from beginning. We think it brought real important discussions around key education reforms that we've been advocating for many years... We think it's the right thing to do... We think it's a good thing for California." - Debbie Look, director of legislation, California State PTA, (in a news broadcast for Capital Public Radio in Sacramento), January 12, 2010 - California State PTA
"I think this is bold, I think this is needed, I think this is something we have long advocated for - and so the California NAACP applauds the Governor and President Obama for taking the action necessary for the children by turning around these failing schools." - Alice A. Huffman, President, California State Conference of the NAACP, August 24th, 2009 - PDF of text from Governor's Press Conference
