Florida finalist in Race to the Top education grant
by Dara Kam | July 27th, 2010Florida made the final cut in the U.S. Department of Education’s Race to the Top grant, now competing with 18 other states for $3.4 billion in federal funds for education reforms.
Florida failed to get any of the money in the first round of competition in which Delaware and Tennessee received a total of about $600 million.
Part of the reason for that was that Florida’s plan lacked support from the teachers’ unions and the state’s 67 school boards, who this time around have contributed to the state’s plan.
Governor Charlie Crist will lead a delegation to Washington, D.C., in August to present Florida’s Race to the Top proposal. He’ll be accompanied by Education Commissioner Eric Smith and Andy Ford, president of the Florida Education Association.
Florida schools is now in the running for up to $700 million in federal funds for education reforms.
“Florida has worked diligently to bring together diverse support from superintendents, school board members, teachers and teacher associations for our Race to the Top application,” Crist said in a press release. “I am confident our team will clearly communicate why Florida’s past and present success will ensure bold education reforms that are critical to Florida’s future.”
The final winners are expected to be named by the end of September.
Tags: Charlie Crist, education, Race to the Top
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July 27th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
NO to federalizing education. Keep education LOCAL.
Does Washington DC politicians KNOW the circumstances of local eduction? NO!
Keep control of what’s happening, don’t allow the Federal Government to come in.
The democrats and Obama’s Race To The Top (RTTP)ONLY GIVES MONEY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BUT DEMANDS ARE IN PLACE FOREVER.
NO to federal control. It’s a BIG mistake to come for temporary money and lose control of the states’ and counties education.
It it up for nanny government. You wanted nationalized healthcare, here’s nationalized education.
BIG Power grab. BOTH parties!
July 28th, 2010 at 9:10 am
Let the Feds keep their money. We don’t want no quality education in Florida. It only leads to better jobs and economic opportunity. We like our low paying jobs, why fix what ain’t broke?