States turn backs on millions of Race to the Top funds due to educators' concerns:
"Some educators won't buy Obama's Race to the Top program, and states are turning down Race to the Top funds from the U.S. Department of Education.
Why would states turn the money down?
Basically, it's because educators don't want to comply with the federal qualifications for the money.
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced Thursday the finalization of an application process for the final 4.35 billion dollars."
However, about half of the states will not attempt to accomplish four major reforms to qualify for Race to the Top funds, including:
• Developing teacher evaluations that are tied to student performance,
• Streamlining the process to allow professionals in other fields to gain teacher certification,
• Increasing the number of charter or other alternative schools, and
• Developing methods to deal with failing schools.
So why haven't many states adopted these reforms, especially when the state could land extra millions of dollars?
There is the obvious fact that every time federal dollars come with mandates, they end up costing more in the long run. This alleged to be the case with No Child Left Behind, and many school districts have sued the Department of Education over this issue.
There are other reasons for states electing not to enact the reforms.
"Some educators won't buy Obama's Race to the Top program, and states are turning down Race to the Top funds from the U.S. Department of Education.
Why would states turn the money down?
Basically, it's because educators don't want to comply with the federal qualifications for the money.
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced Thursday the finalization of an application process for the final 4.35 billion dollars."
However, about half of the states will not attempt to accomplish four major reforms to qualify for Race to the Top funds, including:
• Developing teacher evaluations that are tied to student performance,
• Streamlining the process to allow professionals in other fields to gain teacher certification,
• Increasing the number of charter or other alternative schools, and
• Developing methods to deal with failing schools.
So why haven't many states adopted these reforms, especially when the state could land extra millions of dollars?
There is the obvious fact that every time federal dollars come with mandates, they end up costing more in the long run. This alleged to be the case with No Child Left Behind, and many school districts have sued the Department of Education over this issue.
There are other reasons for states electing not to enact the reforms.