NYC Schools Overhauled In Competition for ‘Race To the Top’ Funds (NY)

August 2, 2010

On Tuesday New York State became one of 19 finalists in the second round of President Obama’s Race to the Top competition. If New York manages to become one of the winning states, it could receive up to almost $700 million for its public schools.

That money would come in handy, as figures released by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) Wednesday showed that math and English proficiency for grades three through eight have a long way to go.

According to new, tougher benchmarks, only 54 percent of students in New York City are meeting or exceeding math standards, and only 42 percent are meeting reading standards. Statewide, 61 percent of all students passed the math test and 53 percent passed the reading.

Win or Lose, Reforms Are Here to Stay

This is the second time New York State has entered the Race to the Top competition, meant to raise standards and improve teaching across the nation. New York didn’t make the cut during round one (a budget item listing more than $200,000 in overpriced administrative office furniture was just one of the deal-killers), but NYSED is hoping that this time will be different.

The funding is especially tantalizing as state education aid is set to be cut by $1.4 billion in light of New York State’s $9 billion budget deficit. New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said Thursday that school districts across New York have lost a significant amount of revenue as a result of the “Great Recession.”

Whether New York wins the funding or not, the educational reforms endorsed by President Obama are here to stay. Here are just some of the major changes parents and teachers can expect to see in their children’s classrooms:

— New legislation has established an annual evaluation system for teachers and principals, which will be a “significant factor” in promotion, retention and removal. Starting in the 2011-2012 school year, student test scores will count for 40 percent of a teacher’s score.

— The number of charter schools, will more than double. The state’s charter school cap has been raised from 200 to 460.

— All schools will implement new “Common Core Standards” by the 2011-12 school year. Teachers will receive professional development in the new standards.

— The city’s school chancellor (or boards of education, outside of the city) will be able to contract with outside organizations to manage persistently low-achieving schools. This will include roughly 147 schools statewide in the 2010-2011 school year.

— The State Education Department has received funding to implement a sweeping data system, which will launch statewide in fall 2012. This system will provide information about each student to teachers and parents, and provide data to the state about college-readiness.

— Teacher and school leader preparation programs will be redesigned and the state will provide alternate methods of certification.

In Spite of Critics, Obama Stands Behind Program

Critics argue with many of these reforms, calling them unproven. Civil rights groups worry that the competitive process offers less access to poor and minority students, while others say that charter schools are not the panacea some make them out to be. Test opponents worry that too much importance will be put on standardized test resul ts.

Cynics say that the funding — like education funds provided by some state lotteries — will merely replace money cut from the state budget. The Legislature recently sought to restore $400 million to the education budget, out of the $1.4 billion projected cuts. Paterson vetoed the restoration, however, saying the state couldn’t afford it.

While the teacher’s union has supported the principle of teacher accountability, Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said Tuesday that some aspects of the Race to the Top competition troubled her.

“While we encouraged our local and state affiliates to be involved in every aspect of Race to the Top, we have always been troubled that this competition, by its very construct, leaves out millions of students across the country,” she said.

President Obama, in a speech to the National Urban League Thursday supported Race to the Top. Obama called the program “the single most ambitious, meaningful education effort we’ve attempted in this country in generations.

“There should be a fuss if we weren’t doing these things,” he said.