Racing for More Money?

Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson

I don't know if anyone has heard of this, but there is a new incentive for states to reform their education assessment system. The government will offer 4.35 billion dollars in grant money for states that show they are reforming their education system to better evaluate students and teachers.

As stated by the Department of Education, "The Race to the Top Fund provides competitive grants to encourage and reward States that are creating the conditions for education innovation and reform; implementing ambitious plans in the four education reform areas described in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA); and achieving significant improvement in student outcomes, including making substantial gains in student achievement, closing achievement gaps, improving high school graduation rates, and ensuring that students are prepared for success in college and careers."


One requirement under the act is that student performance will reflect upon the teachers.

So how do states get this money? Well, from my understanding after reading the political documents and finally finding the appendix where all the knowledge is referenced, it all comes down to the paper work. An application needs to be submitted before December 31st, 2009 and it needs to be detailed like no tomorrow. See, the grants will be given from the application, and then once the state receives the grant, they will have annual reports that they have to compile, tracking student progress and finances. The first one is for $4 billion dollars for overhauls of education system and reform. The second grant at a later date, Race to the Top Standards and Assessment Competition, is for $350 millions for states "to support the development of assessments by consortia of States."

So yes, more money going to schools for reform. Yea? I don't really now how to feel about it. I think the idea of competition for grants based on reform ability is a nice incentive for states to try new and better programs for their schools. However, it gets to a point where money can not always fix the problems. An important question needs to be asked, will more money help our schools, really? At one point I want to say yes because I have seen schools that have no resources and just can't even get paper for class. Then again, I have seen schools with rooms of paper that they over ordered in the 70s and is just sitting there, never to be used. If anything, evaluation of their budgets need to be taken into consideration when dealing with this new grant. I once applied for a grant for a shelter I was working for, and one requirement was to make a budget showing how much money my group could earn/raise and the rest would be covered from the grant. We need this evaluation process as well in the schools.

So maybe out of this we will have better schools, or at least for awhile. Who knows what will actually happen once the grants are passed out.

Links:
Department of Education