What’s Next After Race to the Top

Despite the fact that Washington did not win federal Race to the Top Grant funding, our state cannot stand still. Instead, the state must redouble its efforts to put in place policies and programs that will raise student achievement and close Washington’s growing achievement gap. Now is not the time to shelve the good work that went into our state’s Race to the Top application. Washington leaders must press onward and use the significant district and union support they were able to gather for the application to drive real reforms that produce real results for our students.

As part of Washington’s Race to the Top application, state leaders submitted the beginning of an Education Reform Plan for Washington state. This plan represents a step forward for Washington, but a plan is only as successful as its implementation. State agencies must reorganize themselves to finalize, implement and deliver on this plan as soon as possible. This move would demonstrate that Washington is serious about achieving better outcomes for students, regardless of receiving federal grant dollars.

Looking Ahead: Race to the Top Round 3, ESEA and Beyond

With the Obama Administration signaling that there will likely be a third round of Race to the Top funding, making progress on education reform policies, programs and Washington’s Education Reform Plan is important. Specific reforms that Washington leaders can act on in the next year to increase student achievement and our state’s competitiveness for future grants include:

• Implementing college and work ready graduation requirements;
• Implementing a strong accountability system that measures college and career readiness;
• Strengthening state and district teacher effectiveness policies so that they recognize and reward outstanding teachers;
• Reorganizing state education agencies to implement and deliver on the state’s education reform plan; and
• Developing a framework to allow for more innovative schools to open in Washington.

Implementing these reforms will put Washington on the path federal education policy is headed.  The Department of Education has said that Race to the Top will be the new frame for the re-authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.  This means that Washington, and its one million students, cannot afford to be out of step with this national movement toward reform.

For a brief summary of Washington’s Race to the Top application, please view our analysis.

For the U.S. Department of Education’s Blueprint for Reauthorizing ESEA, please visit the department’s website.