District Seeks Federal School Funds

January 13, 2010

The Rockford School District is in the running for a piece of the $500 million pie for education reform and student success in Illinois through Race to the Top.

The district and Rockford Education Association together applied for the competitive grant program funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Nationally, $4.35 billion is available. The state should have about $500 million a vailable, and at least $200 million of that would be proportionately distributed to participating districts. The rest of that money stays with the state for development standards, database system and growth models.

Districts must apply with the state, and not all districts will apply, meaning those that do will get a bigger chunk.

Funding is available as goals, time lines and targets are met in each district, and funding must be spent over a four-year period.

The goals, set by Race to the Top, are to enhance standards and assessments, improve data systems to support instruction, strengthen teachers and administrative effectiveness, and turn around struggling schools.

“We have to address those general assurances,” said Molly Phalen, president of the Rockford Education Association. “But we can tailor it then to what we think will best fit and best help our situation here.”

The joint agreement, announced at Tuesday’s School Board meeting, is a big step for the district and teachers union as the two don’t always work well together, said Karen Bieschke, union vice president.

The two have worked well together in the past, but not on a project this large.

“This has the potential to be huge,” Phalen said.

A preliminary and fluid plan was presented Tuesday. That same one has been presented to high school principals, whose schools would be targeted first, if funding is offered.

The work done so far is a good first step, she said. But there’s still a heap of work to be done.

The district has been on federal corrective action status and the state academic watch list for three years. About half the schools are in federal school improvement status. That’s on top of the district’s achievement gap, low graduation rat es and high truancy rates.

The reforms required in Race to the Top will likely be mandated by the 2015-16 school year. Race to the Top funding will give the district a leg up — plus funding — to make changes.

“This is coming,” Superintendent LaVonne Sheffield said. “We want it to come with money. But it’s going to come without money if we can’t reach an agreement. We need to work together.”

Phalen expects struggles, and staff and administrators will be out of their comfort zones. It also will require bargaining with the teachers union, Phalen said.

“This is going to be very difficult,” she said. “But we firmly believe that trying to do this and trying to do this together, rather than have somebody do it to us, is the best step.”

Districts will find out in April whether the money is awarded.