Missouri to compete aggressively for 'Race to the Top'

Last month, local school districts, including Holcomb, Kennett, Senath-Hornersville, and Southland, approved submitting their letters of interest in the national "Race to the Top" program. Although the details of the program have yet to be finalized, the program could provide $4.35 billion in federal funds to schools across the nation.

According to the Missouri Commissioner of Education Chris Nicastro, Missouri will be "aggressively" competing for funding through the program.

"The U.S. Department of Education is challenging states to take bold action to improve public schools through the 'Race to the Top' program," Nicastro said. "The $4.35 billion Race to the Top fund is the federal government's largest-ever competitive investment in school reform. It is our intention -- and our goal -- for Missouri to compete aggressively for 'RT3' funding and to advance policies and programs that will significantly improve teaching and learning in our public schools."

According to information provided by Nicastro, The United States Department of Education is currently inviting states to compete for a portion of $4.3 billion through the RT3 competition. RT3 will award funds to states which develop comprehensive reform plans addressing four reform areas designed to improve student achievement. The reform areas are:

* Standards and assessments;

* Data systems to support instruction;

* Great teachers and administrators, and;

* Turning around struggling schools.

"Gov. Jay Nixon has asked the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and me, to lead Missouri's efforts to prepare a Race to the Top proposal," Nicastro said. "The application process is complex and requires the participation of many stakeholders. We have begun the process of involving many Missourians in the ambitious campaign to develop a top-flight proposal.

"Our goal is for Missouri to move into the top 10 among all states in educational quality, as measured by our performance on NAEP tests and other established indicators. Race to the Top funding will help us achieve this goal more quickly.

"Not all states will choose to enter the Race to the Top. Not all that enter will be successful. However, we believe Missouri can be competitive and that we will become a national leader in the next wave of school reform in America."

At the local level, Southland Superintendent Raymond Lasley said he feels Missouri has a good chance of getting approved for the program.

"The last I heard, there were only 14 states of the 50 that are applying for this Race to the Top," Lasley said. "I don't know why the rest of them are not applying, but that increases Missouri's chances.

"I think Missouri has a good chance because of the fact that [when] No Child Left Behind was enacted, Missouri already did a lot of the things that No Child Left Behind [implemented]. We already had a standardized test and it was harder, actually, than what the federal government required. We already the system of tracking teachers and which kid had which teachers. That was in place to be put in place. A lot of things that No Child Left Behind required, Missouri was already up on it. That gives us an advantage because we didn't have to change education all that much.

"Now this Race to the Top will be the same way. We are already doing some of the things they want us to do."

For more information or to follow Missouri's involvement with the program, log on to DDDnews.com.