California schools 'lose out' in 'Race to Top'

[n2doc]

Demian Bulwa, Chronicle Staff Writer

Tuesday, August 24, 2010


(08-24) 15:47 PDT SACRAMENTO -- California education officials expressed disappointment Tuesday after learning that the state had lost its bid for as much as $700 million in the Obama administration's Race to the Top competition, a $4.35 billion grant program aimed at improving schools.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced Tuesday that nine states and the District of Columbia were winners in the second round of a program designed to encourage such aggressive reforms as connecting teacher evaluations and pay to students' test scores.

"I am deeply disappointed that our application was not chosen," said California Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell. "However, the loss of the funding may slow, but not defeat, our efforts to improve student achievement in California."

California had made the cut as one of 19 finalists after submitting a second round application assembled by seven superintendents, including Carlos Garcia of the San Francisco Unified School District.



The 'winning' states - which claimed awards ranging from $75 million to $700 million - were Massachusetts, New York, Hawaii, Florida, Rhode Island, Maryland, Georgia, North Carolina and Ohio. Delaware and Tennessee received money in the first round.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/08/24/BA6J1F2HOM.DTL&tsp=1

Guess those expensive consultants from the Gates foundation weren't enough. Sucks to be living in Georgia, though....

[femmocrat]

1. Whew! PA didn't make the cut.

Although I wonder why.... some of the "winning" states (NY at least) have strong unions, don't they?

On edit: One of the links from the original stated that PA finished 18/19 states in round 2.

[LWolf]

2. So...states that competed and lost out...

Even though they didn't make the cut, they still had to adopt unfriendly, anti-education policies just to be in the running, correct?

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Yep

The plan is working.

[LWolf]

4. Way too well.

:grr:

[YvonneCa]

5. But California, after doing just that, went on in the primaries...

...to REJECT the Democratic reform candidate for state supt of schools (Gloria Romero). The top two vote getters BOTH oppose the reform agenda...and one of them will end up in carge of the CA Dept. of Education. Romero is a state senator who...hurriedly... pushed the reform legislation through. She only came in THIRD in the primary election. :7 YAaaay!!!

I guess maybe that hurt us for RTTT...Darn! ;)

[LWolf]

7. I'm glad to hear that.

I am a product of California's public schools, and spent most of my career there. Who will end up on the ballot in November?

[YvonneCa]

8. It's a run-off between Larry Aceves...

...and Tom Torlakson, who is a state assemby member. Here's an old story about the race:

http://www.dailynews.com/opinions/ci_15161614

It is more than a little biased...especially considering what happened in the June primary. :7

[LWolf]

9. More than a little biased, to put it mildly, lol.

Sounds like Torlakson is the one to pull for. I notice that, out of three Democrats, he's the only one who is called "liberal," and he's connected with us teachers who want to "thwart" reform. :eyes:

Why is it, that where politics and media are concerned, the only "reform" is that promoted by tptb?

What do you think Torlakson's chances are?

[YvonneCa]

10. I watched the televised debate (before June) between...

...all three candidates. (Prior to that, I knew little about any of them...except for what Romero was doing in the state senate.) Romero came off as arrogant. JMHO. Both Torlakson and Aceves were EXCELLENT. Both made the case that Diane Ravitch makes.

As to Torlakson's chances...I'd say they are good. But it's proabaly 50-50 between him and Aceves. Right now, I'd be happy with either. Another debate could clarify a lot of issues, though...now that RTTT has been lost.

[LWolf]

11. I'd like to watch that debate. nt

[madrchsod]

6. thank who ever illinois has`t any clout.....

i guess arne is afraid the rest of the country will see how fucked up he left the chicago schools.