State school chief responds to US DOE plans to withhold $10 million in Race to the Top funds
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Here is a statement from State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge on the U.S. Education Department initiating procedures to withhold $9.9 milllion from Georgia's Race to the Top grant over state delays in putting a teacher evaluation program in place.You can read the U.S. DOE letter notifying the state of its intentions here.
All along, state folks said the Race to the Top timeline was daunting, but that they could and would meet it. That is apparently not the case with the teacher evaluation overhaul, which was tested last year and found wanting by many teachers. Based on the feedback, there clearly was a need for more time to figure out this new system. But that extra time could come at a price.
In a letter today to Gov. Nathan Deal, the feds outline what Georgia promised and the risk in failing to deliver on time, saying, "In order to avoid withholding, the State must provide a plan and evidence, including sufficient legal authority, if necessary, to implement the full scope of the