Two states win Round 1 of Race To The Top

Race To The Top is an education
funding program that was created with the 2009 recovery act. With over $ 4 billion available for school districts, Race To The Top laid out a point system for schools that desired a cut of the funds. Only states that earn a certain
number of “points” will be funded in one of the two rounds of funding. With the winners of round 1 announced, many schools are racing to get the same day cash loans they could get if they win round 2.

The basic functioning of Race To The Top

Race To The Top created a scoring system for
school reforms based on 500 points. No single improvement in educational policy is worth more than 58 points
- most are worth between 10 and 40 points. 10 points are awarded for “making education funding a priority”. Showing a progressively closing achievement gap is worth 30 points. A universal academic standard throughout the state is worth 40 total points. Forty states and the District of Columbia have elected to contend for Race To The Top funds. Awards to schools are based on student population, and are ultimately determined by the Department of Education.

Round 1 winners of Race To The Top

Only two states met the federal government’s needs for round 1 of Race To The Top. Delaware and Tennessee will both receive federal Race To The Top money.
The Delaware education spending budget will get a $ 107 million boost, and Tennessee stands to receive up to $ 502
million. Many states are getting left out of the funding, admitted Arne Duncan, the Secretary of Education. However, he also claimed that he hopes it will “light a fire” in statehouses across the nation. It turns out that support of teachers’ unions for the reforms were the clinching factor for these two states.

States rushing for Round 2 Race To The Top funds

Despite the fact that they created the program,
Congressional members left it with comparatively few rules and regulations. The Secretary of Education instituted a point system and judging panel to study state’s
reforms. Many states have voiced concerns with Race To The Top, namely how the point system favors tying a teacher or principal’s performance to student achievement. Many other states have expressed concern 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 cash to lend that it has. When a state is facing huge budget deficits,
as the majority are, education usually ends up with deep cuts first. There is nevertheless over $ 3 billion in the Race To The Top fund, and Round 2 “winners” can
be announced in June.