California loses Race to the Top, again
California didn't come in first in the "Race to the Top" education program
In another blow to California’s public education system, the Department of Education announced today that it has not selected the state as a winner in the second round of Race to the Top, the controversial national competition between states for federal education grants. The $4.35 billion will be split among Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia. Had they won, participating California school districts, including Los Angeles Unified and Long Beach Unified, would have received up to $700 million. In order to qualify for competition, the school districts had pledged to embrace controversial reforms such as linking teacher evaluations to standardized test scores and allowing poorly performing schools to be converted into independently run charters. Officials said no one reason precluded a state from winning the funds, but a glaring shortcoming of California’s application was it’s absence of union support, from local teachers unions to the two major state teacher unions. Critics of Race to the Top, including teachers unions, several prominent education experts, and the National Education Association (NEA), have long argued that states like California are too willing to trade desperately needed one-time funding for unproven, aggressive policies. Is losing out on Race to the Top a devastating financial blow or a blessing in disguise?
Guests:
Ramon Cortines, Superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District
Marty Hittelman, President of California Federation of Teachers and member of the American Federation of Teachers' Higher Education Program and Policy Council
Diane Ravitch, former Assistant Secretary of Education in the George H.W. Bush Administration; Research Professor of education at New York University and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution
- Patt Morrison for August 24, 2010
- California loses Race to the Top, again
- How much would it take to get you to rip out your lawn?
- Conversations with California’s congressmen and women – Rep. Loretta Sanchez
- Is parking in L.A. about to get easier and more AND less expensive?
- Obesity rates keep growing. Is “Instant Recess” the answer?
Also on this episode
Events
Comedy Congress Live
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
7:30 p.m.
- 9 p.m.
The comedic material emanating from Washington D.C., and state capitols across the country, is enough to make any sitcom writer jealous, even if most of that comedy is unintentional. Our motto on Comedy Congress is that just when politics makes you want to cry, it’s usually best to laugh.
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