"WATSONVILLE - In spite of uncertainty about mandates and funding, Santa Cruz County's two largest school districts are signing on to the latest education reform plan.
The County Office of Education also has signed up for Race to the Top, a $4.3 billion federal program aimed at improving student achievement.
The County Office of Education also has signed up for Race to the Top, a $4.3 billion federal program aimed at improving student achievement.
Districts must signal their intention to participate by today and have until Jan. 8 to sign an agreement with the state. More than 700 of the state's approximately 1,000 public school districts had joined the effort by Wednesday.
If California wins a Race to the Top grant - and in the competition between states, there's no guarantee - school districts would get a cut of the money in exchange for implementing new academic standards and accountability measures, including controversial teacher evaluations."