District-Level Race to The Top, Another Bad Idea on Top of a Pile of Bad Ideas
The U.S. Department of Education announced it’s $400 Million District-Level Race to the Top program last week. Now they are totally bypassing the states and going straight to the school districts. There are over 14,000 school districts in the country, but only those districts with a minimum of 2500 students and 40% of students who meet the poverty guidelines (those who qualify for free or reduced lunch) are eligible to apply for the grants. Smaller school districts may join with other districts to apply, even districts in other states. The DOE is encouraging districts within states to craft reform plans that incorporate the “four cornerstones” of improving teacher quality, school turnaround plans, student data collection, and standards and assessments.
Plans must have the signatures of the district superintendent, school board officials, and local union presidents
Injustice Served In Truancy Case
A Texas judge threw a 17-year-old student in jail for a night when she was truant yet again…
The problem here is that this honors student works a full-time job and a part-time job working to support her younger sister and brother who is college after her parents abandoned her and her siblings. She does this, by the way, while taking advanced placement courses and dual credit college courses.
And to repeat, she is an honors student…
Shouldn’t we be applauding this young person’s sacrifice and work ethic rather than punishing her? At the very