States face delays in implementing Race to the Top

January 10, 2012|Christine Armario, AP Education Writer

Several states that won a slice of the U.S. Department of Education’s $4.3 billion Race to the Top competition have had to delay plans to implement ambitious reforms and two could possibly lose money if they don’t get back on track.

Officials released state reports Tuesday detailing the progress of all 12 winners in the first year of implementation and found only three are on schedule with their plans. Another six states are headed in the right direction but facing delays and three — New York, Florida and Hawaii — are reported to have significant issues.

“New York made significant progress through Race to the Top over the last year but has recently hit a roadblock that not only impedes Race to the Top but could threaten other key reform initiatives,’’ U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Tuesday in a statement. “Backtracking on reform commitments could cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars for improving New York schools.’’

It was the second time in weeks the department warned a state could lose money for not fulfilling its Race to the Top proposal. In December, officials admonished Hawaii for “unsatisfactory’’ performance, placing that state under “high risk’’ status. Hawaii has requested amendments for all projects that are part of their Race to the Top plan. The state also delayed implementation of a new evaluation system.

New York and Florida are not yet considered “high risk,’’ but Education Department officials are concerned. In New York, the state has held back millions in federal grants to 10 districts that haven’t reached an agreement with unions on teacher and principal evaluations, including in New York City, the largest U.S. school district. Negotiations between New York City education officials and the United Federation of Teachers fell apart in late December.

Federal grants in jeopardy include not just Race to the Top funds, but also School Improvement Grants, which are aimed at lifting the lowest performing schools. Other education reform projects within New York’s Race to the Top plans are dependent upon having the teacher evaluation system in place. In the report released Tuesday, Education Department officials note the large number and variety of school districts within the state have made executing Race to the Top plans especially difficult.

In Florida, officials have struggled to issue contracts in a timely manner. Ninety-eight percent of Florida’s state-level Race to the Top funds has been budgeted for contracts ranging from data system implementation to intervention in failing schools. The report cites leadership changes, legal challenges and lack of staff among problems there.