The proposition is almost too good to be true: A handful of states that devise the most innovative ways of improving education, particularly for at-risk kids, would get about $500 million each to carry out the plans.
That’s the challenge that has come down from Education Secretary Arne Duncan. Colorado is among a smattering of states that have responded by sprinting out of the blocks with ideas and enthusiasm.
We’re glad to see it, and given that many of the reforms the Obama administration favors already have taken root here, we believe the state is positioned to be competitive for “Race to the Top” money.
However, as we listened to state leaders pitch their ideas and potential legislation last week, we had two concerns.
First, we hope state legislators and Gov. Bill Ritter’s administration unite and find ways to pull together in crafting a bid for the reform money. Last week, it sounded to us as if there might be separate efforts at work, one emanating from the state Senate and another from Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien’s office.
Both pitched good ideas, but they need to work together. We’re confident they will. It’s heartening to see such energy — and legislative proposals that seem to be on the right track.
Second, significant thought needs to go into creating reforms that will have a lasting effect when the federal money goes away. Either they must be one-time expenses that lead to enduring change or new funding sources must be devised to support them. It would be unacceptably wasteful to see reforms get off to a good start only to wither for lack of money.
But there’s still plenty of time to devise such plans.
The funding the Obama administration is offering presents great opportunities. It could fund some of the innovation Colorado has been devising, such as a data system to track a student’s academic growth over the years. That system could determine which schools and which teachers are most effective.
Rich Wenning, associate commissioner at the Colorado Department of Education, has been working on a growth model and is close to rolling it out. It’s the type of system Secretary Duncan has said he supports.
Colorado also has been out in front on other types of school reform, including charter school development, updating educational standards and performance-pay programs.
Race to the Top money also will be awarded depending on how wisely states spend an initial pot of education stimulus money, which for Colorado is $1 billion.
Colorado is positioned well to win innovation money. It’s an opportunity that shouldn’t go to waste.
