Federal government offers grants to overhaul 'worst' schools
Along with the competition for states known as Race to the Top, the federal government is offering "turnaround" grants aimed at overhauling the nation's lowest performing schools. Washington state has about four dozen that will be eligible for those grants, which will range from $50,000 to $2 million a year for three years.
Seattle Times education reporter
Marysville Superintendent Larry Nyland says Tulalip Elementary doesn't deserve to be on a new list of Washington state's lowest-performing schools.
In his view, the school progressed tremendously in the past few years — just not in ways that the federal government measures.
Still, Nyland intends to apply for a share of $50 million in federal grants available to his school and some four dozen others in Washington that are on that list, including three in Seattle.
It's just too much money to pass up, he said.
"Although we might have some angst about the process, we ... want to do well by the kids, and the grant can help us do that."
The grants are part of a $3.5 billion national effort, announced last summer, to overhaul schools judged to be among the lowest 5 percent in terms of student achievement. On Monday, President Obama announced that he wants to add another $900 million to the program.
Schools can receive anywhere from $50,000 to $2 million a year for three years, provided they agree to one of four types of major overhauls, which range from closing the school to introducing a new instructional program and new methods for evaluating and rewarding teachers.
The state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has not yet publicly released the names of the schools on Washington's list, saying it's still awaiting final approval from the feds.
In the meantime, eligible districts must apply for a grant by Friday, and the state plans to announce the winners on March 26.
