Race to the Top Round II: Washington's in, gov says | OregonLive.com

Race to the Top Round II: Washington's in, gov says | OregonLive.com

Race to the Top Round II: Washington's in, gov says

By Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian

April 08, 2010, 1:17PM

Ted Warren/The Associated PressWashington Gov. Chris Gregoire interacts with students at Foster High in Tukwila on Wednesday as part of an event to promote Washington's bid for federal "Race to the Top" innovation money.
Washington was one of 10 states that sat out the first round of competition for $4 billion of federal "Race to the Top" education innovation funds.

But Gov. Chris Gregoire is making it clear she wants the state to go all in during round two. She called on all 295 of her state's school districts to sign on -- something that Tennessee and Delaware both managed to pull off in round one.

Those two states won round one -- the only winners among 40 states that applied. Oregon came in seventh-last.

Just because a governor asks, however, doesn't mean school board or local teachers unions will come on board. Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski found that when he tried to get all of them on board for round one. Only 112 of

U.S. Department of Education will highlight Forest Grove High School in video

By Wendy Owen, The Oregonian

April 08, 2010, 1:17PM

The U.S. Department of Education plans to highlight Forest Grove High School in a video showcasing the school's academic achievement, especially for minorities and low-income students.

U.S. Department of Education Deputy Director John White will hold a press conference at the high school on April 15 to talk about the keys to the school's success.

Forest Grove High School is known in Oregon for its work and has been recognized at the state level four years in a row for its vast improvements in state assessment test scores for students who struggle with English and those from low income families.

The U.S. Department of Education video will include interviews with students, staff and parents, said Connie Potter, Forest Grove School District spokeswoman.

In 2002, Forest Grove High School ranked among the bottom of high schools in Washington County on state achievement tests.

About 42 percent of its students were considered low income and 14 percent were not native English speakers.

Less than half of the school's, then, 1,600 students met or exceeded benchmarks in reading and less than one-third met or exceeded