| > | | | | this competition is based on methods which are |
| Race to the Top finalists announced on Tuesday | | | | anti-teacher and anti-student by their essence, |
| is currently the most discussed event on the | | | | — said Matthew Barney, economic expert |
| education agenda. The second round of the | | | | and Race to the Top consistent opponent. |
| competition for $4,3 billion state award yielded | | | | The recent events show that critics are right. The |
| positive results but also sparkled the new wave | | | | race to the Top Program has brought new |
| of controversy over the raise of state schools | | | | repercussions to one of its major applicants |
| testing standards. | | | | — New York. |
| Speaking at the National Press Club in Washington | | | | As it is known, in order to qualify for the Race to |
| on Tuesday, Education Secretary Arne Duncan | | | | the Top funds, states must agree to develop |
| announced 19 winners of the second round of the | | | | state standards aligned to the Common Core |
| Race to the Top Program. | | | | Standards. This move was tasked to reduce the |
| The finalists appeared to be Arizona, California, | | | | overall downgrade of the state exams, but |
| Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, | | | | brought new controversy instead as more |
| Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, | | | | students started failing their tests after standards |
| Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North | | | | were raised. |
| Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and | | | | As the problem unfolds, NY state education |
| South Carolina, with each receiving over 400 | | | | officials announced Wednesday that more than |
| points in the 500-point evaluating scale. | | | | half of public school students in New York City |
| While round 1 brought victory to only two States | | | | failed their English exams this year, and only 54 |
| — Delaware and Tennessee — the | | | | percent of them passed in math. |
| significant increase in Round 2 winners shows their | | | | Now that we are facing the hard truth that |
| greater involvement in the reform process. | | | | not all of the gains were as advertised, we have |
| The $4,3 billion award winners — from 10 | | | | to take a look at what we can do differently, |
| to 15 states, according to Mr. Duncan — will | | | | Merryl H. Tisch, the chancellor of the State Board |
| be announced in September. He stressed the final | | | | of Regents, said. |
| number will depend on the size of the states | | | | The slump in passing rates has been seen |
| winning the most points. | | | | statewide. This year 61 percent of state students |
| The controversial program received warm | | | | were expected to pass a grade in math, as |
| responses from many experts, with such think | | | | compared with 86 percent last year. The situation |
| tanks as Achieve Inc. and WestEd (education | | | | with English is even worse, with only 53 percent |
| research groups) calling it viable and coherent. The | | | | passing, compared with last year’s 77 |
| supporters indicate the program spurs | | | | percent. |
| states’ competition for education reform. | | | | Test standards were raised after continuous |
| Since its inception, 23 states have passed | | | | claims of them becoming too easy, with questions |
| reforms aimed at increase of charter schools and | | | | repeating from year to year. So this year, the |
| amending the teaching staff evaluation system. | | | | state made them less predictable and increased |
| The [stimulus package] has unleashed an | | | | the number of correct answers needed to pass |
| avalanche of pent-up educational reform activity | | | | the test. Last year, for example, a fourth grader |
| at the state and at the local level, Mr. Duncan | | | | had to get 37 out of 70 possible points on the |
| said. | | | | math test to reach Level 3 (out of 4), or grade |
| New York, for example, has more than doubled | | | | level. This year, a fourth grader needed to earn |
| its number of charter schools and tied teacher | | | | 51 out of 70 points to reach that level. |
| evaluations to schools performance. Colorado | | | | The worrying test results not only threaten to |
| passed a major overhaul of teacher tenure and | | | | undermine the whole grading system but also |
| evaluation rules, despite staunch union opposition. | | | | raise questions over the efficiency of |
| Louisiana pushed the law that stipulates more | | | | Obama-advocated program, particularly in terms |
| rigorous evaluation procedure for teachers. | | | | of school evaluation system which ties test |
| However, the program is subject to fierce | | | | results to teachers’ performance and thus |
| criticism as well. Critics point at its totally wrong | | | | determines their pay and bonuses. |
| timing when state education budgets cannot | | | | Meanwhile, it has already cast shadow over NY |
| afford the long-term competition. They also | | | | Administration achievements over the past years, |
| worry that the program lacks strategic thinking | | | | with the mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Schools |
| and seeks to improve the K-12 system with | | | | Chancellor Joel I. Klein using the old results of |
| dubious methods. | | | | the-then downgraded test standards to show |
| Providing money for education basing upon the | | | | state schools have improved. |
| competition is a totally wrong move. Especially if | | | | |