There has been a lot of talk lately about the federal Race to the Top (RTTT) program.  President Obama and Secretary of Education Arnie Duncan are promoting it as a central piece of the government's strategy to encourage innovation and reform in public schools.  Governor Gregoire wants our state to apply for funding.  State Superintendent Randy Dorn seems to support an application, but is less optimistic about our chances of success.  The WEA has been supportive, yet has concerns about some of the policy conditions attached.

So what is RTTT and why should anyone care?  I'll do my best to provide the basics.

Race to the Top is a federal grant program that was authorized as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).  While many of the ARRA (i.e., stimulus) funds flowed to states and districts on a formula basis, RTTT funds are competitive.  Applications are submitted by states and evaluated based on the extent to which a state is committed to:

1. Adopting internationally-benchmarked standards and assessments that prepare students for success in college and the workplace;

2. Building data systems that measure student success and inform teachers and principals in how they can improve their practices;

3. Improving teacher and principal quality by expanding certification avenues, developing annual evaluation systems that include student growth as one of multiple measures of teacher and principal performance, linking those evaluations to key personnel decisions (certification, retention, dismissal, and compensation), and ensuring the equitable distribution of effective teachers and principals; and

4. Ensuring accountability and turning around the lowest-achieving schools (included here is a requirement that states allow charter schools).

Recently, our State Board of Education adopted an accountability system that will ensure compliance with condition #4 (with the exception of the charter school provision).  This system targets the 5% lowest performing schools in the state for significant reform.  OSPI is currently working with a consortium of 47 other states to develop Common Core Standards that will address condition #1.  There are three bills currently in the House and one in the Senate that are designed to address condition #3, the most controversial of the four conditions.

At stake for Washington is $150 million to $250 million and the ability to apply for additional funds down the road.  Forty states submitted RTTT Round One applications.  Washington has chosen to submit in Round Two (June 1) to allow time for legislative action needed to make the state's application competitive.  Local districts that are interested in participating in receiving RTTT funding must commit to supporting their state's plan and sign a memorandum of agreement which assures their intent to comply with the terms and conditions of the grant.  It's my understanding invitations to local districts will occur in May.

As with all aspects of ARRA funding, RTTT is complicated.  Much remains unknown at this point.  The actions of the Legislature, the State Board, the Governor's Office, and OSPI relative to RTTT bear watching, whether you agree or disagree with the state's decision to move forward with an application. Periodic updates may be found on the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction's web site (http://tr.im/M3gU).