Obama's "Race to the Top" Rewards Disappointing

Obama's "Race to the Top" Rewards Disappointing

Obama's "Race to the Top" Rewards Disappointing

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WRITTEN BY RAVEN CLABOUGH

MONDAY, 05 APRIL 2010 13:52

President Obama’s Race to the Top program was intended to award states that implement “coherent, compelling, and comprehensive education reform.” Governors from a variety of states were excited at the prospect of competing for a share of the $4 billion set aside for the program, but the excitement very quickly transformed into disappointment when Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that only two states would be receiving a share of the money: Delaware and Tennessee. Some school districts view Race to the Top as a wise and generous federal investment that will outdo the No Child Left Behind program, whose promises of federal money were unfulfilled. The purpose of Race to the Top is to award states who advanced reform in four primary areas: · Adopting standards and implementing assessments that would enable students to succeed in the workplace and compete in the global economy · Creating data systems that measure student growth and success that can be utilized by teachers and principals to help foster instruction · Recruiting, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals where they are needed most · Bringing about turn-around in the lowest achieving schools According to the White House website, Race to the Top “will go to States that are leading the way