Post by WeNeed3 on Jan 24, 2010 22:33:38 GMT -5
1/22/10
Local Superintendents React to "Race" Proposal with Skeptism, Questions
This week's announcement that President Obama is requesting another $1.35 billion to expand the Race to the Top federal education competition might, on the surface, seem like major news for cash-strapped suburban school districts.
The added funds would create a third opportunity for states to vie for millions in stimulus funds.
It would also open up the competition to individual school districts.
Yet local superintendents, many of whom signed on to the state's bid for the program, were taking the news with caution Thursday.
"One ball in the air at a time. It's a whole lot of idea right now," Maine Township High School District 207 Superintendent Ken Wallace said.
The competition will reward innovative education reform plans. Those plans must feature several components: adopting higher learning standards; tracking individual performance comprehensively; tying teacher evaluations to student achievement and turning around the lowest performing schools.
Race to the Top would have originally doled out $4.35 billion to states over two rounds. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 41 states, including Illinois, submitted an application in the first round. Illinois requested $510 million.
The added $1.35 billion Obama has requested would create another round of competition for states as well as a district-specific competition.
At a news conference Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan gave broad strokes for plans for the district-specific competition. If approved by Congress, the additional stimulus money would be available, at the earliest, in October.
In developing a district competition, Duncan said he plans to "figure out the best structure" by talking to superintendents across the country.
He plans to design a competition that will give urban and rural districts an equal shot at money.
Districts merely looking to supplant funds, however, likely won't be bringing home any cash.
"We want to fund the states and the districts that are willing to challenge the status quo, who have school boards, teachers unions working together. ... This is going to be a very, very high bar."
Jose Torres, who is familiar with Duncan from his time as a regional superintendent at Chicago Public Schools, said, "Certainly he knows me and he knows my work. I obviously would (give input) if asked."
Torres expressed initial concerns about the "strings attached" to district funding.
"If, in their wisdom, they say you cannot supplant, I would just hope that those districts who are leading the pack with (educational reform) will not be penalized in having been engaged in some of these practices early on," he said.
Ellen Correll, superintendent of Grayslake Elementary District 46, said she wouldn't be in favor of a district level competition.
"This really puts us at a disadvantage. (We) really need to work together, not at odds. I'd want to see what that would entail.
Like Wallace, Naperville District 203 assistant superintendent Kathy Klees said she did not have enough information yet to form an opinion on the district level competition. Her school board last week voted 6-0 to reject signing a memorandum of understanding in support of the state's bid.
Maine District 207, which predicts a $19 million budget hole next year, did sign a memorandum, albeit reluctantly, noting his concern that effort and money will go into an application that might not bear fruit.
"Given the things going on in this district financially, how can you in good conscience even eliminate yourself from the possibility (of more funds?)" Wallace said.
As to whether the district might choose to opt into a district specific competition, "We don't have any problem trying to compete in a contest that recognizes innovation or willingness to apply, but part of the question comes back to who is determining what quality is and what it looks like and what it means?"
Daily Herald staff writers Melissa Jenco and Justin Kmitch contributed to this report.
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=353040&src=10
Local Superintendents React to "Race" Proposal with Skeptism, Questions
This week's announcement that President Obama is requesting another $1.35 billion to expand the Race to the Top federal education competition might, on the surface, seem like major news for cash-strapped suburban school districts.
The added funds would create a third opportunity for states to vie for millions in stimulus funds.
It would also open up the competition to individual school districts.
Yet local superintendents, many of whom signed on to the state's bid for the program, were taking the news with caution Thursday.
"One ball in the air at a time. It's a whole lot of idea right now," Maine Township High School District 207 Superintendent Ken Wallace said.
The competition will reward innovative education reform plans. Those plans must feature several components: adopting higher learning standards; tracking individual performance comprehensively; tying teacher evaluations to student achievement and turning around the lowest performing schools.
Race to the Top would have originally doled out $4.35 billion to states over two rounds. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 41 states, including Illinois, submitted an application in the first round. Illinois requested $510 million.
The added $1.35 billion Obama has requested would create another round of competition for states as well as a district-specific competition.
At a news conference Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan gave broad strokes for plans for the district-specific competition. If approved by Congress, the additional stimulus money would be available, at the earliest, in October.
In developing a district competition, Duncan said he plans to "figure out the best structure" by talking to superintendents across the country.
He plans to design a competition that will give urban and rural districts an equal shot at money.
Districts merely looking to supplant funds, however, likely won't be bringing home any cash.
"We want to fund the states and the districts that are willing to challenge the status quo, who have school boards, teachers unions working together. ... This is going to be a very, very high bar."
Jose Torres, who is familiar with Duncan from his time as a regional superintendent at Chicago Public Schools, said, "Certainly he knows me and he knows my work. I obviously would (give input) if asked."
Torres expressed initial concerns about the "strings attached" to district funding.
"If, in their wisdom, they say you cannot supplant, I would just hope that those districts who are leading the pack with (educational reform) will not be penalized in having been engaged in some of these practices early on," he said.
Ellen Correll, superintendent of Grayslake Elementary District 46, said she wouldn't be in favor of a district level competition.
"This really puts us at a disadvantage. (We) really need to work together, not at odds. I'd want to see what that would entail.
Like Wallace, Naperville District 203 assistant superintendent Kathy Klees said she did not have enough information yet to form an opinion on the district level competition. Her school board last week voted 6-0 to reject signing a memorandum of understanding in support of the state's bid.
Maine District 207, which predicts a $19 million budget hole next year, did sign a memorandum, albeit reluctantly, noting his concern that effort and money will go into an application that might not bear fruit.
"Given the things going on in this district financially, how can you in good conscience even eliminate yourself from the possibility (of more funds?)" Wallace said.
As to whether the district might choose to opt into a district specific competition, "We don't have any problem trying to compete in a contest that recognizes innovation or willingness to apply, but part of the question comes back to who is determining what quality is and what it looks like and what it means?"
Daily Herald staff writers Melissa Jenco and Justin Kmitch contributed to this report.
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=353040&src=10