“Education Secretary Arne Duncan said today he will leverage a $5 billion fund to shape school reform, rewarding states that push for classroom innovation with federal stimulus dollars and denying extra aid to those that don't.

Duncan's comments detailed how he will manage the Race to the Top Fund, a pot of cash created by the stimulus law unlike any other that has been under the control of an education secretary. He said he'll dole out the money in part based on how states and school systems spend tens of billions of dollars in other stimulus funding intended to prevent layoffs and program cuts and bolster education of children in poverty and those with disabilities.

‘States that are simply investing in the status quo will put themselves at a tremendous competitive disadvantage for getting those additional funds,’ Duncan said in a conference call with reporters. ‘I can't emphasize strongly enough how important it is for states and districts to think very creatively and to think very differently about how they use this first set of money.’” Read the full article.

So, while our state is guaranteed over $1 billion in education stabilization funds to help backfill our almost $9 billion state deficit, the Governor and state education leaders should remember what our mom always told us, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

The more creative we are with the first round of those stabilization funds—driving the dollars to innovative practices proven to boost student achievement—the more competitive we’ll be in the effort to win the discretionary Race to the Top dollars.

Olympia, are you listening?