One day, all children in this nation will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education. As a Colorado educator, I know how scarce resources can be for everything – from classroom time to pencils. That’s why I’m thrilled at the prospect of a $400 million grant for public education in Colorado.
Through a new competitive program called Race to the Top, the U.S. Department of Education has set aside $4 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for education, and we are in the running to win.
Rather than distributing funds through a formula, Race to the Top asks states to submit proposals that demonstrate they are implementing innovative education practices. Colorado’s odds are strong because we have made clear progress in three out of the four required categories: student data, standards and assessment, and intervention for struggling schools. However, according to the New Teacher Project (a respected national nonprofit organization), Colorado is behind in the fourth and perhaps most important area: great teachers and leaders.
While Colorado is home to many outstanding educators, we still have too many children that are not reaching the state’s high standards. There is a learning gap for Colorado’s 200,000 lowest-performing students, who generally lag behind their more affluent peers and desperately need excellent teachers if they are going to graduate from high school and get on the path to college.
As the executive director of Teach For America in Denver and a member of the statewide Race to the Top Steering Committee, I have two ideas for what Colorado can do to win.
First, Colorado has to streamline the process by which talented teachers become school leaders. Once educators have proven they have the skills and experience necessary for success, Colorado should make it easy for them to move into administrative positions with minimal requirements. A fast track approach to school leadership would help keep our most talented individuals here, rather than losing them to a nearby state or even another career field.
Second, we need to reconsider how we evaluate our teacher preparation programs by focusing on student outcomes. By reviewing achievement data by classroom, we could understand whether graduates are getting the tools they need to help children meet grade level expectations.
And if we make this data public, Colorado could create a transparent system for ensuring that the most effective teachers work in the state’s highest need public schools. At a recent speech at Columbia Teachers’ College, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan identified teacher preparation assessment as a high priority due to its potential to drive lasting education reform nationwide.
Race to the Top is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Colorado’s public schools. Let’s harness our pioneer spirit to address teacher quality in Colorado and submit a winning proposal to Washington. Together, we can build a stronger foundation for the Centennial State’s future generations.
Sean VanBerschot is executive director for Teach For America in Denver. EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an online-only column and has not been edited.
