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Race to the Top losers: Why did Louisiana and Colorado fail?

(From The Christian Science Monitor, August 24, 2010)

By AMANDA PAULSON

Nine states and the District of Columbia have emerged as winners in Round 2 of the closely watched Race to the Top competition, the Department of Education's innovative - and controversial - competition to reward reform efforts.

Together, they were competing for $3.4 billion available in federal funds.

In order of their rank, the winners are Massachusetts, New York, Hawaii, Florida, Rhode Island, D.C., Maryland, Georgia, North Carolina, and Ohio.

"We funded as many states as we could [until we] ran out of money," said Education Secretary Arne Duncan in a press call with reporters, noting that just a few points separated some of those states who failed to make the cut from the winners. "I can't overstate how strong the applications were in the second round."

Still, the big news among many education experts was who lost - particularly Louisiana and Colorado, widely considered leaders in education reform with priorities that are strongly aligned with those favored by the administration. And some of the winners - including Maryland, Ohio, and Hawaii - raised eyebrows, as well.

Continue reading "Race to the Top losers: Why did Louisiana and Colorado fail?"....


9 states, DC get $3.4B in 'Race to the Top' grants

(From The Associated Press, August 24, 2010)

By DORIE TURNER

ATLANTA -- More than 13 million students and 1 million educators will share $3.4 billion from the second round of the federal "Race to the Top" grant competition, the U.S. Education Department said Tuesday.

The department chose nine states -- Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Rhode Island -- and the District of Columbia for the grants. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said 25,000 schools will get money to raise student learning and close the achievement gap.

The "Race to the Top" program, part of President Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan, rewards states for taking up ambitious changes to improve struggling schools. The competition instigated a wave of reforms across the country, as states passed new teacher accountability policies and lifted caps on charter schools to boost their chances of winning.

"These states show what is possible when adults come together to do the right thing for children," Duncan said in a conference call with reporters. "Every state that applied showed a tremendous amount of leadership and a bold commitment to education reform. The creativity and innovation in each of these applications is breathtaking."

Continue reading "9 states, DC get $3.4B in 'Race to the Top' grants"....


Results in National School-Reform Contest Spark Complaints

(From Newsweek, August 24, 2010)

By PAT WINGERT

While celebrations were breaking out in Massachusetts, New York, Hawaii, Florida, Rhode Island, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Georgia, North Carolina, and Ohio after the 10 were named winners of round two of the Obama administration's national education-reform competition, Race to the Top, controversy was mounting over some of the more surprising winners and losers.

Some education reformers described themselves as stunned that two states generally considered to be at the forefront of school innovation, Louisiana and Colorado, were among the "losers," while states with less impressive reform bona fides--Hawaii, Maryland, Ohio--were among the winners. Louisiana and Colorado were finalists in rounds one and two of the competition, while neither Hawaii nor Maryland made the finals in the first round. The winners will share $3.4 billion in prize money, to be divided based on population.

Continue reading "Results in National School-Reform Contest Spark Complaints"....


August 3, 2010

African-Americans for Charter Schools

New survey data show black support on the rise. So why is the NAACP opposed?

(From The Wall Street Journal, August 3rd, 2010)

By Paul E. Peterson and Martin R. West

This past week the NAACP, the National Urban League and other civil-rights groups collectively condemned charter schools. Claiming to speak for minority Americans, the organizations expressed "reservations" about the Obama administration's "extensive reliance on charter schools." They specifically voiced concern about "the overrepresentation of charter schools in low-income and predominantly minority communities."

Someone should remind these leaders who they represent. The truth is that support for charters among ordinary African-Americans and Hispanics is strong and has only increased dramatically in the past two years. Opposition along the lines expressed by the NAACP and the Urban League is articulated by a small minority.

Continue reading "African-Americans for Charter Schools"....


August 2, 2010

Obama Defends Teacher Policy

President Tries to Sway Unions, Civil Rights Groups to Back Merit-Based System
(From The Wall Street Journal, July 30th, 2010)

By LAURA MECKLER

WASHINGTON--President Barack Obama on Thursday delivered a fresh call to hold teachers accountable for student achievement, defending his administration against complaints from unions, civil rights groups and Democratic lawmakers.

These groups, usually backers of the president, have objected to the administration's Race to the Top program, which seeks to drive change at the local level through a competition for $4.3 billion in federal grants.

President Barack Obama, speaking at the National Urban League Thursday, said he was seeking "some measure of accountability" in classrooms.
To qualify for funding, states are encouraged to promote charter schools and tie teacher pay to performance. Unions have questioned both goals.

Continue reading "Obama Defends Teacher Policy"....



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