Funding

CALIFORNIA CAN STILL CLINCH A SPOT IN THE RACE TO THE TOP

Oakland, CA) – California still has a shot at $4.35 billion in federal education stimulus dollars as part of Round Two of the Race to the Top Competition.  According to a policy brief released today by The Education Trust-West, California’s Race to the Top: A Road Map for Round Two, the Golden state can achieve second round success by quickly understanding why it lost, what other states did better, and what it must do differently to win.

“California is not out of the race.

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STATEMENT BY THE EDUCATION TRUST—WEST ON RACE TO THE TOP WINNERS

(Oakland, CA) – The Education Trust–West congratulates Tennessee and Delaware, winners of the first round of the Race to the Top (RTTT) competition.

“Tennessee and Delaware have blazed a path for others to follow,” said Arun Ramanathan, executive director of The Education Trust—West.

California's quality-blind layoffs law harms teachers and students

Source: 
The Los Angeles Times

Factors related to job performance -- classroom management skills, the teacher's attendance and annual performance evaluation rating -- should be taken into account rather than length of service.

By Timothy Daly and Arun Ramanathan

Latimes.com

March 24, 2010

Over the last several weeks, in what has become a dismal rite of spring, nearly 30,000 teachers throughout California received layoff notices. Knowing how crucial teachers are to student success, you might wonder how schools make the difficult decision of which teachers to cut.

STATEMENT BY THE EDUCATION TRUST—WEST ON RACE TO THE TOP FINALISTS

(Oakland, CA) – Today, the US Department of Education released the list of finalists for Phase One of the Race to the Top Competition (RTT).

PERSISTENT ACHIEVEMENT GAPS MAY IMPEDE CALIFORNIA’S EFFORTS TO WIN THE RACE TO THE TOP

As California signs its application for federal Race to the Top (RTTT) funding, many recognize that we may never achieve the excellence the Obama administration seeks without focusing our proposal squarely on equity for low-income students and students of color.

Indeed, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has made it clear that these RTTT grants will reward states not only for bold reforms proposed for the future but also for past progress in narrowing gaps in student achievement.

Statement by The Education Trust—West on Governor Schwarzenegger's 2010-2011 Budget Proposal

(Oakland, CA) – “Today, Governor Schwarzenegger released the details of his budget plans for the fiscal year 2010 – 2011. After two straight years of dramatic and devastating cuts to public education – we applaud the Governor’s realization that we cannot dig our way out of our fiscal crisis by forcing our education systems to bear the brunt of the cuts.”

 “That said – we are deeply concerned about cuts to health and human services programs that will undoubtedly devastate the social safety nets of the very students that attend our highest-need schools.  Policymakers should not have to choose between protecting the services that ensure children are ready to learn and the classrooms where learning occurs.”

Statement by The Education Trust—West on California and Race to the Top

OAKLAND, CA (November 19, 2009) - Last week, the US Department of Education released its final regulations for the Race to the Top application.  California must now – in short order – decide  if it is going to sprint or step off the starting block to win a share of the $4.35 billion pot.

It should be an easy decision.  In a year when California faces another massive budget deficit, it stands a chance to receive up to $700 million with an unprecedented focus on dramatically improving teaching and learning in our state’s public schools.

Statement by The Education Trust—West on The Federal Government's Release of "Race to the Top" Fund Regulations and California's Failure to Meet Them

OAKLAND, CA (July 27, 2009) - “Friday, the U.S. Department of Education released regulations for its ‘Race to the Top’ fund that contained sobering news for California.

Statement by The Education Trust—West on Governor Schwarzenegger Signing Senate Bill 19

OAKLAND, CA (October, 13, 2009) - “The Education Trust—West applauds Governor Schwarzenegger for signing Senate Bill 19 (Simitian), thus making California eligible to compete in the Race to the Top Grant.

Statement by The Education Trust—West on Governor Schwarzenegger's Call For a Special Session on Education and The “Race to the Top” Fund

OAKLAND, CA (August 20, 2009) - “Governor Schwarzenegger’s call for a special session on education today means that California may have a chance to participate in the “Race to the Top” after all.

The Governor is providing clear leadership and keeping his word that California will aggressively compete for every available stimulus dollar.

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