Sat Jul 31 2010
Associated Press
Ohio is one of 16 finalists the U.S. Department of Education named March 4 in the first round of its "Race to the Top" competition, which will deliver $4.35 billion in school reform grants.
Other finalists selected from a pool of 41 applicants are: Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Tennessee. The winners will be chosen in April, and a second round of applications accepted in June.
"These states are an example for the country of what is possible when adults come together to do the right thing for children," U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said.
The grants are designed to reward states that have adopted and will continue implementing innovative reforms to improve student performance. The money is part of President Barack Obama's economic stimulus law, which provided an unprecedented $100 billion for schools.
The $4.35 billion "Race to the Top" fund is targeted specifically for education reform.
According to the state's application, Ohio's $410 million request would be split evenly between the state and local boards of education. While programs aimed at improving students' readiness for college and careers would get 47 percent of the funding, 35 percent would go toward innovations aimed at closing achievement gaps and 18 percent would be invested in efforts to achieve results quickly, including information technology and research and development.
The Education Department said it expects no more than half of the money to be awarded in the first phase of the competition.
Duncan said they are setting a high bar in the first phase. In a March 4 conference call with reporters, Duncan said it was a "fair statement" to anticipate fewer than 10 finalists will get awards.
"But this isn't just about the money," Duncan said. "It's about collaboration among all stakeholders, building a shared agenda, and challenging ourselves to improve the way our students learn."
Program draws criticism, questions
States were required to be legally permitted to link student performance data to teacher evaluations -- a measure that created resistance among some teacher unions.
Unions also have expressed concern that not all of the "Race to the Top" finalists included teacher input in forming education policy in their applications.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federal of Teachers, said real change can only succeed if teachers and administrators work together.
"As the process moves forward, we hope that every state will work to ensure that teachers' participation and input is not simply sought but actually incorporated as an integral part of every stage of this process," she said.
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