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Friday, November 13, 2009

Educated Guess » Race to the Top criteria don’t help laggard California


Educated Guess » Race to the Top criteria don’t help laggard California:

"With the firing of the starting pistol for applying to the federal Race to the Top competition, California’s odds of winning, already low because of a lack of direction and leadership, probably grew slimmer.

Race to the Top’s four pillars of reform haven’t changed. But the feds’ priorities, as outlined in a detailed rating system, have shifted to California’s disadvantage. And other states have already moved purposefully while California has spun its wheels for months."

Those spearheading Race to the Top on behalf of the governor and superintendent of public instruction have said that the state would focus on one priority, turning the lowest achieving schools around. California certainly needs to do that; Sen. Gloria Romero’s SB 5X-1 last week, which the state Senate passed last week, would give the state more authority in that area.