(STATES) 'Race' is On to Improve Chances for Education Dept. Stimulus Dollars
With the application process set to begin as early as next month for the new Race to the Top (RTT) program, states are making changes to their education systems to better position themselves for success.
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The draft application and regulations for the $4.35 billion program funded by the Recovery Act (PL 111-5) were released on July 24, with the comment deadline set for Aug. 28.
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States will be selected based on 19 goals that have been grouped into the following four areas of school reform:
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- Adopting internationally benchmarked standards and assessments.
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- Recruiting, developing, retaining and rewarding effective teachers and principals.
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- Building data systems that measure student success and inform school practices.
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- Turning around low-performing schools.
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State activities include:
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- Louisiana is loosening caps on the total number of charter schools (for more on the state's intentions, please visit http://tinyurl.com/njtwqc).
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- Colorado is creating school innovation zones (for more on state's actions, please visit http://tinyurl.com/m558hk).
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- Delaware is negotiating performance pay policies that tie teacher compensation to student outcomes (for more on the state's actions, please visit http://tinyurl.com/ctzrjw).
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The Recovery Act requires that governors apply for RTT funding on behalf of their state. Grantees will report annually on their actual performance compared to the targets listed in their applications.
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