"Race to the Top" Program Costs Schools
BUFFALO, NY - When the federal government created the Race to the Top program five years ago, the program generated excitement in schools nationwide.
In New York, school districts would get federal money to help implement the state's Regents Reform Agenda, which includes the Common Core.
But, five years later, many districts say they had no idea they would have to pay big bucks to actually implement the new learning standards.
Race to the Top is a $4.3 billion federal program. The money was given to states over four years to then give to local school districts -- Ellicottville Central is one of those districts.
"We really haven't received any money until this year, this is the last year," said Ellicottville superintendent Mark Ward.
Ward says a measly $17,490 -- during the last year of the program was received.
What has Ellicottville spent to implement new learning standards?
20 times what it received from the government.
Ward says at least $350,000 has been spent for a new reading program for elementary students, overhauling the district's computer programs and printing costs for new materials, among other expenses.
"School districts have to change, everybody has to change to implement the Common Core curriculum, in order to do that you have to have materials that align properly," Ward said.
In Fredonia, state mandates forced the school district to add staff, so programs could be implemented.
"Because of the new teacher evaluation system, the district was forced to hire two additional assistant principals, one in our elementary school, one in our middle school, just to cover the staff evaluations," said Joseph Reyda, the director of curriculum for Fredonia Schools.
Reyda says the hires, which were made in 2011 came at a total cost of $150,000 annually. Plus, there have been yearly costs for new materials and computer programs.
"Those costs are not covered by Race to the Top funding, all of our Race to the Top money went towards staff development, literally that's all went for the last two years, three years," Reyda said.
How much has Fredonia spent in added costs?
Upwards of $750,000, while only getting $55,000 from Race to the Top.
"The subsidiary costs of implementing change on the scale that we have was incalculable," said Donald Ogilvie, the district superintendent for Erie 1 BOCES. He's referring to school districts he's heard from in Erie County. Ogilvie says BOCES can provide some resources to help schools, but not financial help.
"We really do not provide resources in the form of dollars," Ogilvie said.
Instead, many schools -- because they're short-staffed -- have actually used their "Race to the Top" Program Costs Schools: