$ 4.35 billion given to Race to Top winners for school reform

If you need to improve your school, just check with President Obama. He pays $ 4.35 billion to schools in America to make some improvements. There is a reward given to schools in the “Race to the Top” program. If the community wants to “improve schools and close the achievement gap,” they are eligible for the program. ”Race to the Top” has nine winners about to share the $ 3.4 billion says the U.S. Department of Education: Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. Grant amounts per state could be announced later. There is more coming with a round of $ 350 million going to states that have different student assessment.

‘Race to the Top’ winners aren’t the only reformers

The grant coming from “Race to the Top” has changed more states. These states want to do better also. New teacher accountability directives and no caps on funding for charter schools are two of many moves states have made to make an effort to win the “Race to the Top” prize. 19 finalists were chosen in July from 35 states and the District of Columbia who applied for round 2. Right now, there have been 46 states and also the District of Columbia that have participated in “Race to the Top”.

State education leaders and teachers unions against programs

“Race to the Top” hasn’t met with universal approval. MSNBC explains that teacher evaluations having a connection to standardized test performance was not something teachers unions wanted while state education officials didn’t want school districts giving the federal government control with “Race to the Top”.

Reform America needs

The overall outlook has been good. Democrats for Education Reform released a public statement in which the organization clearly showed that it has its finger on the pulse of what many of the nation is thinking about “Race to the Top.”. Civil rights and child advocacy groups to local business were addressed in the statement saying that there is a hope that under the President’s command, maybe all these groups can work with teachers unions to help give a new result America needs while also applauding what the president has done.

Additional reading

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/38827310

President Obama on “Race to the Top

youtube.com/watch?v=VNbDv0zPBV4