Race to Top fails students
Funding smaller class sizes improves achievement more than federal program
In the days following Michigan's submission of its Race to the Top application for federal school money, many have been quick to point a finger of blame at the Michigan Education Association for recommending that our locals not sign on to the state's plan.
To be sure, we were as interested as the next in any extra funding our schools could receive. But in the end, the price was just too great -- we could not support a plan that is not in the best interest of our students, especially one crafted with political objectives instead of educational goals and without regard for strategies proven to help struggling schools.
The future of Michigan's students is more important than any negative press.
The real regret, though, is that Race to the Top could have been so much more.
If the program -- and Michigan's part in it -- were truly about raising the achievement of our state's students, it could have done some real good. We could have taken what has already been shown to work and used the federal money to help fund it here. If Michigan were serious about "Racing to the Top," our plan would have looked much different -- and been much more effective.
First, school districts would have been required to reduce class sizes and would have received the funding to support them.
This is no secret -- smaller class size leads to higher student achievement. Major research studies in Tennessee and Wisconsin have shown that not only do students in classrooms with fewer than 18 students outpace their peers in performance, but the results last, with continued benefits throughout their academic careers.
And yet, many students here in Michigan sit in classrooms nearing 40 students, more than double the amount that research has shown to be optimal.
The second key component of a real "Race to the Top" is:
From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20100127/OPINION03/1270316/1008/opinion01/Race-to-Top-fails-students#ixzz0dvEGjj4c
