Education Week 10/13/2010 issue

Raising Expectations Is Aim of New Effort, p. 1

A New Jersey school district chose to include students in their teacher workshops, which were sponsored by the Urban Alliance.  The idea was behind the workshops was to counter the influence of low teacher expectations in dealing with students (the “bigotry of low expectations”).  By including students, the district hoped to help teachers look at their students in a new way.

In the workshops, although teachers and students were not equal, each learned more about the other and learned new techniques together.  On the second day, students team-taught a writing session.  Teachers were amazed to find unpromising students helping other students.  Teachers said the workshops were eye-opening.

Ambitious Race to Top Plans Put School Districts on Spot, p. 1

Eleven states and the District of Columbia have won $4 billion in federal race to the top funds.  All had commitments from teachers unions and local school districts to help carry out the plans.   Winners of the second round have to submit their “scope of work” plans to the Dept. of Education by Nov. 22^nd.  If enough districts in a state fail to submit their plans, that state could lose its race to the top funds, but the deadlines represent a number of challenges.

Some districts have been asked to spell out how they will ge agreements from teachers’ unions on teacher evaluations and pay for performance.  Florida’s application called for a new system of evaluation of teachers and principals based in part on improvement on student achievement tests.

In making changes, local implementation will be an important factor, since at least 50% of the state awards must go to local education agencies, once their scopes of work have been approved.  But local districts are concerned that Race to the Top funding may not cover the costs of making the changes.  They will face a number of challenges, but the biggest challenge will be time.