Race to the Top list omission creates confusion

Despite an omission in a New York Newsday story about Race to the Top funding for area schools, the Baldwin Union Free School District was in fact awarded RTTT funding in the amount of $104,250. According to Baldwin school sources, Newsday’s failure to include the allocation in its coverage caused some parents and community members to conclude the district had not been awarded any money at all.

Race to the Top funding derived from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and provided approximately $4.3 billion to be awarded to schools that showed a laudable commitment to improving themselves. After several months of legislative wrangling and competition between state and city teachers’ unions, New York State finally adopted enough reforms to secure some $700 million in funding.

In order to receive RTTT funding, New York State promised to make certain changes to its policies and practices. Among the most significant alterations were a near doubling in the number of charter schools statewide, and the promise to adopt the use of student test scores during teacher evaluations — a practice teachers’ unions have opposed for years.

The state is expected to use the funds to improve tracking systems and student evaluation rubrics state-wide from kindergarten through college. Education officials have also announced their intention to improve state tests which many feel have become easier to pass over the last several years. Baldwin’s RTTT allocation will paid in installments over a period of four years. Specific plans for the funding have yet to be announced. Comments about this story?