News that Colorado will get yet another shot at winning federal education money from the Race to the Top grant program is an opportunity the state cannot afford to bungle.
Perhaps the third time is the charm. Given the cuts on the table in local school districts, we surely hope so.
Twice previously, Colorado came up short in its efforts to win millions for K-12 education reforms from Race to the Top.
The first time, in our estimation, the failure was due to a lack of boldness in the reforms pitched. At that point, key legislation that would have overhauled Colorado’s teacher tenure system was put on the back burner at the statehouse.
The second application, which boasted of the passage of a ground- breaking teacher tenure reform bill, was undermined by a lack of support from the state’s teachers union, the Colorado Education Association.
We have always hoped that the CEA would put aside its objections to the reforms embodied in Senate Bill 191, which fundamentally changes the way teachers are evaluated by including student academic performance in that assessment.
Union leadership has disappointed at every turn, but they get another chance. SB 191 is law, so reforms are coming. The union should heartily support Colorado’s third shot at Race to the Top money to help pay for the work.
Regardless, the state is well on its way to creating a new system to measure effective teachers and principals.
In April, the State Council for Educator Effectiveness presented its complex framework for the new evaluation system.
Next, Colorado’s Department of Education will devise a model evaluation system, as well as create tools to measure subjects and grades not covered by the Colorado Student Assessment Program, or CSAP.
Obviously, all of this will cost money. A consultant has estimated districts may incur an initial cost of $53 for each student in setting up the evaluation system. And there probably will be other costs, including providing help for teachers who are deemed ineffective.
This newest round of Race to the Top funding isn’t offering nearly as much money as prior rounds, but it’s not chump change, either.
Nine states that failed to get grants previously — including Colorado — have been invited to apply for a piece of $200 million. The grants are expected to range from $10 million to $50 million.
At this point, it is unclear whether union buy-in will be a factor in how bids are graded. Regardless, we would hope the CEA, as well as local district officials, would strongly support this effort to win additional money in an environment where funds are scarce and opportunities are few.
