Post by title1parent on Mar 30, 2010 8:47:40 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/2128722,2_AU29_Illinois-not-winner-Race-The-Top.article
Illinois falls short in Race To The Top
March 30, 2010
By PAUL DAILING pdailing@stmedianetwork.com
In a national competition for more than $4.3 billion in school money, Illinois came in fifth out of 41 applicants.
Which gives the state precisely nothing.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said Monday that only Delaware and Tennessee will be receiving the Race To The Top funds.
"We received many strong proposals from states all across America, but two applications stood out above all others: Delaware and Tennessee," Duncan said.
Race To The Top is a federal program where states compete for funds for specific school improvements. In the first round, Illinois was one of the 16 finalists out of the 41 initial applicants for more than $4.3 billion.
The deadline to apply for the $3.4 billion available in round two is June 1.
Almost every Fox Valley school district has joined in on Illinois' Race To The Top plan.
"We're disappointed. I assume that Illinois will apply in the next round," Plano Schools Superintendent Laurel Walker said. "We have not been assuming that Illinois would get it, so this will not have a direct effect on our budget."
However, during planning for next year's budget, which Walker called a "bolt-tightening process" due to the massive cuts in state funding, the Plano district was hoping for Race money to expand professional development of staff.
"That will be the area that will suffer the most in terms of our local budget from not winning the Race To The Top," Walker said.
For the West Aurora School District, student evaluation is where the Race money will be missed.
"One of the reasons we were excited about it was the funds would be used for improving student learning in a manner we ... have wanted to pursue but were short of the money," West Aurora spokesman Mike Chapin said.
East Aurora School District spokesman Clayton Muhammad said the district will use Delaware and Tennessee as examples.
"Comprehensive, coherent, statewide education reform is necessary and any additional funds allocated to achieving that goal are welcome and needed," Muhammad said.
Illinois falls short in Race To The Top
March 30, 2010
By PAUL DAILING pdailing@stmedianetwork.com
In a national competition for more than $4.3 billion in school money, Illinois came in fifth out of 41 applicants.
Which gives the state precisely nothing.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said Monday that only Delaware and Tennessee will be receiving the Race To The Top funds.
"We received many strong proposals from states all across America, but two applications stood out above all others: Delaware and Tennessee," Duncan said.
Race To The Top is a federal program where states compete for funds for specific school improvements. In the first round, Illinois was one of the 16 finalists out of the 41 initial applicants for more than $4.3 billion.
The deadline to apply for the $3.4 billion available in round two is June 1.
Almost every Fox Valley school district has joined in on Illinois' Race To The Top plan.
"We're disappointed. I assume that Illinois will apply in the next round," Plano Schools Superintendent Laurel Walker said. "We have not been assuming that Illinois would get it, so this will not have a direct effect on our budget."
However, during planning for next year's budget, which Walker called a "bolt-tightening process" due to the massive cuts in state funding, the Plano district was hoping for Race money to expand professional development of staff.
"That will be the area that will suffer the most in terms of our local budget from not winning the Race To The Top," Walker said.
For the West Aurora School District, student evaluation is where the Race money will be missed.
"One of the reasons we were excited about it was the funds would be used for improving student learning in a manner we ... have wanted to pursue but were short of the money," West Aurora spokesman Mike Chapin said.
East Aurora School District spokesman Clayton Muhammad said the district will use Delaware and Tennessee as examples.
"Comprehensive, coherent, statewide education reform is necessary and any additional funds allocated to achieving that goal are welcome and needed," Muhammad said.