More potential ESEA reform . . .

Another part of the President’s budget proposal relating to ESEA is a move to make more of the money be driven by competition as opposed to the formula driven model embedded in the current plan. An example would be a shift of $500 million from Title II funding currently provided to states based on a formula to a competitive grant for new ways to recruit, train, compensate and evaluate teachers and principals. We use our share of the Title II money to staff two teaching positions to reduce class size and a small amount for supporting staff development. Though not a large dollar amount, it is an important source of revenue.

Once again states, locals, and collaborations will need to focus on grant writing as a priority, something that we have not done to date. I am again concerned that revenue will flow to those that have the best grant writers, a relationship with someone that can open doors, and not with those systems worthy of support because of the work they are doing and commitments they are making to reform.

I also continue to be concerned that the lure for and need of federal dollars will limit the scope of change efforts to those currently driving RttT and other federal proposals. They say they want innovation, but only within the parameters that they have identified for change; supporting teacher and principal quality, alternate routes to certification, increases in charter school numbers, using student achievement data in teacher and principal evaluations, intervening in struggling schools, and developing comprehensive statewide data systems.

I also agree with Mr. Hirsch from the New Teacher Center when he says,

“How do we take these ideas and move them from federal government to state government, to districts and schools, to teachers and into practice?” he said. “If we look at it as a game of ‘telephone,’ there are a lot of places where the messages can get miscommunicated.”

At this stage we can only hope that what emerges in ESEA reauthorization, if anything, will be supportive of our work.