Race to the TopDepartment of EducationBy: Sophie Riese

UEGE5102Spring 2013

What is Race to the Top?

0From the Department of Education: What is RTTT? Everything you ever wanted to know (sort of)

0Watch this0 Has Obama’s vision for education and RTTT been

followed through, or has policy differed from the proposed vision?

Think about this:

0Watch Secretary Arne Duncan on “Our World with Black Enterprise” on RTTT… are you convinced?

0Does RTTT promote success in depth and breadth of knowledge and teaching, or does it promote “teaching to the test”? Can these two things be the same thing?

0 In your experience, has RTTT improved the teaching and learning happening in the schools you’re connected with? If so, how? If not, why do you think?

The Common Core

0Developed federally to tie student achievement to a single set of standards- common standards and common measurement across state lines.

0Adopted on a case-by-case basis by states; not federally mandated for consideration in RTTT.

0States may choose the pace at which they implement the standards (New York is moving faster than other states, with the goal of full implementation P-12 in the 2013-2014 academic year).

Read This: Race to the Bottom?

Check out Jay Greene’s article (especially paragraphs three and four). Are we in a race to the bottom? Can Common Core standards help us?As New York implements its first Common Core-aligned tests, are we being fair to our students? Read this and this and see what you think.

As some see it: The Pros:

0Encourages states to raise standards and educate all students.

0Provides funds to states and districts doing innovative work in education reform and teaching.

0Gives points for the creation of data-tracking systems to support instruction.

0Federal funds are directed by the federal government; states have limited say in how the funds can be directed.

As some see it: The Cons:

0 States and districts are winning awards even when they have not shown improvement; states and districts that are heralded as paving the way are not receiving the awards (Hess, 2010).

0 Many education researchers and experts believe that Race to the Top is not what is needed in our schools because::0 Not based on research or best practices0 Encourages “teaching to the test” rather than the

development of higher-order critical thinking skills0 Ties teacher evaluations to student test scores rather than

student improvement (i.e. growth over previous years)

Scandal!

Have you heard about all of the cheating going on? It’s not as far removed as you may think. In addition to the Texas superintendent who has been in jail for over a year now, and the 35 administrators in Atlanta who have just been indicted, read this!

How do You Want to be Evaluated?

0Florida Teachers Sue Over Evaluation System0As a current or future teacher, what are the things that

you would want to count in your evaluation?0As a parent (or at least, put yourself in the shoes of a

parent) of a child, how would you want to evaluate your child’s teachers?

G&T/SPED/ELL

0What’s happening to these students under RTTT?0 RTTT fails to properly account for gifted children by

limiting access to G&T programs and reducing the number of gifted-only programs (C. Finn, personal communication, April 4, 2013)0Overlooked!

0 Encourages schools to discount students with special needs by moving them to other schools or restricting their access to tests

Think About This:

0 Is Race to the Top furthering our “adult-centered” education system, or working to move it towards a more “child-centered” system?

0What needs to happen for policy to be based on research? Why would the Secretary of Education not heed the concerns of experts?

0Watch this (“Voices from the States” after one year of Race to the Top)

Questions for Recommendations

0What should we be focusing on in our efforts to improve educational outcomes?

0 In what ways does Race to the Top further innovation and in what ways does it stifle creativity?

0 Is the charter school phenomenon a result of Race to the Top? If you think so, why? Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

References0 Baker, A. (2013, April 15). Long Island inquiry includes claim of altered high school exam score. The New York Times.

Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/16/education/new-glen-cove-allegation-on-handling-of-state-test.html?ref=education

0 Baker, A. (2013, April 19). More in New York City qualify as gifted after error is fixed. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/20/education/score-corrections-qualify-nearly-2700-more-pupils-for-gifted-programs.html?ref=education&_r=0

0 Baker, A., and Hernandez, J. C. (2013, April 19). A tough new test spurs protest and tears. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/19/education/common-core-testing-spurs-outrage-and-protest-among-parents.html?ref=education

0 Barton, P. E. (2009, August 13). Comments on proposed regulations for education stimulus funds. Education Week. Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/media/bartoncomments.pdf

0 Greene, J. P. (2012, July 17). Do we need national standards to prevent a race to the bottom? EducationNext. Retrieved from http://educationnext.org/do-we-need-national-standards-to-prevent-a-race-to-the-bottom/

0 Harris, D. N. (2010, March 31). The evidence on race to the top: Are the naysayers right? Education Week. Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/03/31/27harris.h29.html?r=641791198

0 Hess, F. M. (2010, August 31). National review: Race to the top limps to a finish. NPR. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129548452

0 Ladd, H. F. (2009, August 20). Comments on proposed regulations for education stimulus funds. Education Week. Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/media/laddcomments.pdf

References (Con’t)0 Ravitch, D. (Multiple Dates). Various blog posts tagged “Race to the top.” Diane Ravitch’s blog. Retrieved

from http://dianeravitch.net/category/race-to-the-top/ 0 Ravitch, D. (2010, August 1). Obama's race to the top will not improve education. Huffington Post Politics.

Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/diane-ravitch/obamas-race-to-the-top-wi_b_666598.html0 Ravitch, D. (2009, September 9). The Start of an interesting and dangerous school year. Education Week’s

Blogs: Bridging Differences. Retrieved from http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/Bridging-Differences/2009/09/editors_note_bridging_differen.html

0 Rich, M. (2013, April 17). Florida: Teachers Sue Over Evaluation System. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/17/education/florida-teachers-sue-over-evaluation-system.html?ref=education

0 Spencer, K. (2013, April 14). Students face tougher tests that outpace lesson plans. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/15/nyregion/with-tougher-standardized-tests-a-reminder-to-breathe.html?ref=education

0 U.S. Department of Education, (2009). Race to the top executive summary. Retrieved from website: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/executive-summary.pdf

0 U.S. Department of Education, (2012). Race to the top executive summary. Retrieved from website: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop-district/2012-executive-summary.pdf