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California Attempts to “Race to the Top” for Federal Education Funds


California Attempts to “Race to the Top” for Federal Education Funds
On July 24, 2009, President Barack Obama outlined the eligibility requirements states must meet to compete for $4.35 billion in “Race to the Top” (RTTT) education funds. The program is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The eligibility requirements that states must fulfill are based on the following three criteria:
  1. States must have received approval for the second-round of State Fiscal Stabilization Funding (i.e., funds provided to states to help stabilize state and local government budgets in order to minimize and avoid education reductions).[i]
    1. To be eligible, states must meet 33 specific data and reporting requirements.
  2. States must not possess any legal barriers linking student achievement data to teachers’ or principals’ performance for purpose of evaluation.
  3. States must have a coherent and comprehensive plan for addressing four specific reform areas:
    1. High-quality standards and assessments
    2. Data systems that support instruction
    3. Effective teachers and principals
    4. Support for struggling schools
In response to President Obama’s official release of the “Race To The Top” eligibility requirements, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on August 20, 2009 convened a special session of the Legislature to “ensure” California would be eligible to compete for the RTTT funds. He also introduced several education reform measures that he hopes the Legislature will approve by October. These proposals include:
  • Removing the California provisions that prohibit California from linking student achievement to teacher performance data
  • Creating measures to help the turn-around of failing schools –
    • Repeal California’s cap on the number of charter schools allowed to operate in the state.
    • Give parents greater freedom to choose the school that best serves their child, by removing the cap on “district of choice” so any student can attend a public school in a participating school district; and allowing open enrollment for students in low-performing schools so they can attend any public school in the state.
    • Increase state focus and resources on the five percent of schools that consistently underperform.
  • Creating measures to help recruit and retain good teachers and principals –
    • Reward teachers who serve in more challenging environments and create additional incentives for student and teacher improvement.
    • Measure student progress to ascertain what teaching mechanisms work in the classroom.
  • Modifying current data processes to more effectively measure performance and accurately track the progress of students, teachers, principals and schools.
While Governor Schwarzenegger is hopeful the Legislature will approve his proposals, opposition from education groups and teachers unions will make passage extremely difficult.
For more information on the “Race To The Top” funds and state reforms click here.

[i]California was the first state to be approved to receive Federal Stabilization Funds.
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