School board to consider Race to Top

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The Spokane University Board will vote tonight on whether or not to assist the state’s proposal to compete for a share of $3.4 billion in federal Race towards the Leading funds.

Millions of dollars will probably be granted towards the talk about using the ideal K-12 school reform program. In Washington, that consists of strategies for tougher teacher and principal evaluations, curriculum to make students far more aggressive in math and science, and improving early-childhood education. Washington’s grant request is for $250 million.

But classes districts have been completely sluggish to indicator on. Only 69 in the state’s 295 districts had submitted the official paperwork as of Tuesday afternoon. The deadline is Monday.

In Delaware and Tennessee, the states productive in the very first competition, all college districts were on board, Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire said.

The slow pace in Washington is making express officials a little nervous; the critical to winning the grant is assistance from a majority of districts. Although the Seattle and Tacoma districts have agreed to participate, Spokane Public Schools – the state’s second-largest area – has yet to sign on.

Nathan Olson, spokesman for that talk about Office with the Superintendent of Public Instruction, explained, “For one of the most part, we are taking a wait and see attitude.”

Most districts are supportive with the notion, Gregoire said. Individuals with hesitation have asked in the event the Obama administration is telling regional schools what to do. The answer, the governor stated, is “absolutely not. We're going to implement adjustments whether or not we get this or not.”

Talk about Superintendent Randy Dorn added that the state’s education reform strategies have been completely within the operates for various years.

Colfax College District, about 60 miles south of Spokane, initially declined.

“It’s just not very very much funds (for us) with vague requirements about how a great deal reporting we’ll have to do,” Superintendent Michael Morgan stated.

Officials there were concerned the district may have to employ a person to track how the grant dollars was currently being employed, and keep information on its influence. But soon after gaining a far better understanding of the requirements, the Colfax Institution Board voted Monday to assist the application.

Think officials say if Washington wins and the reform requirements are too costly or demanding, any district can back out in the initial 90 days.

The Spokane College Board discussed the application last week, with a lot skepticism. Concerns ranged from income currently being too narrowly earmarked to some in the curriculum guidelines staying less rigorous than Washington’s existing strategies.

Spokane Superintendent Nancy Stowell explained the federal plan supports many initiatives the area has been operating on, which includes far better teacher and principal evaluations and greater ways to measure a student’s academic progress throughout the year, instead of by way of 1 test at the end from the year.

If Washington wins the grant, 40 institution districts in Spokane along with the surrounding region would split about $3 million annually. The amount each area receives is based on enrollment along with the variety of students who acquire free or reduced-price lunch.

Spokane Public Educational facilities would collect about $1.6 million annually, Central Valley about $263,000, and Mead about $198,000. Also, $55 million in aggressive grants will be accessible.

If a district chooses not to sign on now, it can reconsider if the state wins and still acquire some from the federal dollars.

“It’s not a good way of carrying out enterprise – saying, basically, ‘I really do not would like to play, but if you ever get money, I will play’ – but it really is permissible under Race towards Best rules,” Olson explained.

So far, Cheney, Wilbur, Freeman, Pullman, Brewster, Omak, Davenport, Cusick and Tekoa classes districts in Eastern Washington have submitted participation agreements for the point out. The East Valley, West Valley, Mead and Central Valley districts will soon join them, local college officials mentioned.

Meanwhile, talk about officials are counting down to Monday’s deadline. Gregoire explained, “If we really don't get an overwhelming response, we will have to ask ourselves if we make the application.”