State Schools Chief O'Connell and Secretary of
Education Thomas Announce Hundreds of Local Educational
Agencies Intend to Participate in Race to the Top
SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell and Secretary of Education Glen Thomas today announced that to date, almost 800 local educational agencies (LEAs) have indicated their intent to participate in the federal Race to the Top (RTTT) reforms and support California's RTTT application. Under the Obama Administration's guidelines, in addition to prompting legislative education reforms required for states to compete,Race to the Top calls on LEAs to voluntarily partner with the state through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to implement reforms that improve student outcomes. LEAs that wish to partner with the state's RTTT application were asked to submit letters of intent by December 31, 2009 prior to the January 8, 2010 deadline for submitting their final MOU. California's MOU was developed in accordance with recently released final Obama Administration Race to the Top guidelines.
"The federal Race to the Top competition has spurred tremendous interest among an amazing array of talented educators in California," said O'Connell. "I'm delighted that almost half of our local educational agencies already have stepped up to the challenge and agreed to partner with the state in making the fundamental education reforms called for in the Race to the Top competition. By investing in state and local systems that will accelerate and drive growth in student achievement, the Race to the Top will help California develop a highly skilled workforce, fuel future innovations, and maintain California's standing as a leading world economy."
"Representing more than 3,796,709 students, school districts that have submitted letters of intent demonstrate the collaborative effort it takes to strengthen California's Race to the Top application. However, the California legislature must still pass comprehensive legislation to ensure that California is highly competitive for this much-needed funding," said Thomas. "The leadership shown by these school district superintendents, board members, and stakeholders is truly commendable. The administration looks forward to receiving their final MOUs."
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides $4.35 billion nationally for RTTT. California may be eligible for up to $700 million. The competitive grant program is designed to encourage and reward states and LEAs that are creating the conditions for education innovation and reform with a specific focus in four core areas:
- Adopting internationally benchmarked standards and assessments that prepare students for success in college and the workplace;
- Recruiting, developing, retaining, and rewarding effective teachers and principals;
- Building data systems that measure student success and inform teachers and principals how they can improve their practices; and
- Turning around the lowest-performing schools.
LEAs are invited to participate in California's RTTT application by signing an MOU that establishes a framework of collaboration and articulates specific roles and responsibilities for the LEA and the state in the implementation of an approved RTTT grant. The number of local educational agencies that have indicated their intent to sign the RTTT MOU represent nearly half of the school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools throughout the state. LEAs that want to be part of California's RTTT application have been asked to submit their signed MOU by January 8, 2010 in order for the state to prepare its application to the U.S. Department of Education for RTTT funds that is due by January 19, 2010.
For a complete list of local educational agencies that have submitted their intent to participate, please visit Race to the Top (Outside Source). For a sample of the Memorandum of Understanding, please visit Memo of Understanding Letter - Letters.