As a part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a new education program called Race To The Top was created. With over $ 4 billion available for school districts, Race To The Top laid out a point system for schools that wanted a cut of the funds. Only states that earn a certain
number of “points” could be funded in one of the two rounds of funding. Round 1 funding has been declared, and many states are scrambling in hopes of getting some of the same day cash loans of round 2 Race To The Top funding.
The basic functioning of Race To The Top
Race To The Top created a scoring system for
school reforms based on 500 points. One reform is worth 58 points, but most are worth 10-40. If the state “makes education funding a priority” they get 10 points. 30 points are awarded to states who show they’re progressively shutting achievement gaps. A universal academic standard across the state is worth 40 total points. Forty-one districts – 40 states and the District of Columbia – have elected to compete. The Department of Education has the last say on winners, and the awards are based on both points and the number of
students.
Winners of Race To The Top: Round 1
In the first round of Race To The Top awards, only two states were awarded money. Delaware and Tennessee will both get Race To The Top money.
The Delaware education spending budget will get a $ 107 million increase, and Tennessee may receive as much as $ 502
million. Education Secretary Arne Duncan recognized that with only two schools being awarded cash in the Race To The Top competition, many states were left out. Duncan said that states that want the money have had a fire lit under them. Delaware and Tennessee were in the end
awarded the money due to the fact of the support of teachers’ unions.
Scrambling for
Round 2 Race To The Top
Although they created the program,
Congressional members left it with comparatively few rules and regulations. The Secretary of Education created a point system and judging panel to study state’s
reforms. One reservation that states have expressed is the point system ties a principal’s performance to student achievement. Many other states have expressed concern that the unprecedented number of federal dollars will not be distributed to all states, leaving some wondering why the federal government hasn’t given them some of the money to lend that it has. Most states are fighting huge spending budget deficits, and education is often one of the first areas where cuts are made. There is still over $ 3 billion in the Race To The Top fund, and Round 2 “winners” can
be declared in June.
