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There’s Always Round 3

by Melissa Bailey | Jul 28, 2010 11:09 am

(9) Comments | Commenting has expired | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Schools, School Reform

Connecticut may have lost round one and two, but New Haven is not despairing in the race for federal education money—it’s looking ahead to the next competition.

Disappointment abounded across the state Tuesday, as the federal Department of Education announced that Connecticut was not among the 18 states chosen to partake in more than $3 billion in the second round of funding for Race to the Top. Under President Obama’s education initiative, states have to compete for funding based on how ready they are to accept certain reforms.

New Haven Public Schools stood to gain nearly $10 million if Connecticut had won the competition. The state was vying for a $175 million grant. Connecticut lost the first round in March, then reapplied.

The New Haven school district would have used the money to boost its ambitious school reform effort, which aims to close the achievement gap in five years, cut the dropout rate in half and ensure every kid has the chance to go to college. New Haven’s approach, especially its teacher evaluation system and teacher contract, has gained praise and attention from top federal education officials.

Melissa Bailey File Photo New Haven school board member Alex Johnston (pictured) said while it’s “certainly disappointing for New Haven and other districts” that Connecticut lost the second round of funding, there’s still hope for forward-thinking cities like New Haven and Hartford.

That’s because of a surprise vote on July 15, when the U.S. House appropriations subcommittee showed support for Race to the Top by adding $800 million to extend the program for another year. That money would be put into a third phase, which would be available directly to districts. The past two rounds of funding passed through the states. New Haven is ahead of the state by several measures when it comes to making the kind of reforms that Education Secretary Arne Duncan is looking for. For example, New Haven’s teacher evaluations already link teacher success to student performance.

“This round 3 competition is a big opportunity for New Haven,” said Johnston, who’s the CEO of the education watchdog group ConnCAN.

The Race to the Top money is targeted to support reforms in four areas: preparing kids for college; building data systems to measure student progress; recruiting and retaining quality staff; and turning around the lowest-achieving schools. Its goals are closely aligned with New Haven’s plan to cut the dropout rate in half, eliminate the achievement gap in five years, and turn around its poorest-performing schools.

Because of this alignment, New Haven would be “very well-positioned” to win a third round of funding, Johnston opined. He had warned back in January that Connecticut was thwarting the chances of getting the money to cities who need it, because the state and governor had been slow at making reforms.

In order to improve its chances in the second round of Race to the Top, the state passed a slew of education reforms —including easing the cap on charter schools and tying teacher evaluations to student performance. The legislation was an important step forward for the state, but the feedback Tuesday was “it wasn’t enough,” Johnston said.

“I imagine that not getting the funding will slow the state down,” in its reforms, but it won’t slow the city down, said New Haven school reform czar Garth Harries. The $10 million in Race to the Top money would have been a huge help, but “we didn’t make specific plans around it.”

Harries said the city has long expected to be able to apply for a third round. He doesn’t know how much money New Haven could stand to gain, but he shared Johnston’s optimism in the city’s chances.

“We think we’d be extremely well-positioned for a Round 3 application,” Harries said. “The heart of what we’re trying to do is a comprehensive reform effort of the kind that Race to the Top is explicitly designed to support.”

Of course, funding for a third round still needs approval by the U.S. House and Senate. As the bill moves through Congress, New Haven will be watching, Harries said.

“If it gets approved, and there’s an application process, we would expect to be in it,” he said.

Comments

posted by: eastie on July 28, 2010 11:25am

obama is borrowing 41 cents of every dollar spent on this program, and all his other lame programs.

It seems that when his supporters hear the words “federal funds”, they think its some magic bag of cash that flows out of some secret spigot in DC. Who the heck do you think is going to have to pay that back?

posted by: CrossPurposes on July 28, 2010 11:41am

How does this affect the current reform happening at Wilbur Cross? Was that grant tied up in any of these funds, or was it independent of all of them? Does this change any of the changes? Just wondering because a lot of good people have sacrificed a lot of time to get this right. It would be a shame if the money to implement this effort did not materialize.

[Editor’s note: As far as I know, the money set aside for Cross reforms is completely independent of the Race to the Top.—Melissa]

posted by: James on July 28, 2010 11:45am

Until they replace Mayo and thin the ranks of costly and unnecessary administrators, reform in New Haven will look like window dressing to me. How can you tout reform when you continue to employ the same man who has failed to improve our deplorable school system for almost 20 years? Until that happens, I would simply see any Federal money coming into New Haven as a boon for the Mayor, his contractor friends, and his cronies in the education system.

And yes, I understand that it was a state and not a city application. However, if I were looking to invest limited resources I would certainly look for a state with a better history of making good decision and not sending mayor and governors to jail on corruption charges. New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford do very little to instill confidence.

posted by: Leslie on July 28, 2010 4:08pm

the money for cross came from the state of ct not the feds. it is also contingent on a new principal taking over. what happens to the grant money from the state when cross doesn’t hire a new principal and the one who retired remains?

posted by: Tom Burns on July 28, 2010 10:50pm

Cross purposes and Leslie——the money is from a different source and don’t worry about the principal thing—-the changes will happen at Cross in any case as it is what we believe will improve student learning without the influence of money—although $$$ would be nice and are well deserved—-either way we move forward with our plans with a new energy and focus not seen to date in New Haven—-BELIEVE—-I do—-Tom

posted by: someone on July 28, 2010 11:12pm

I’m going to assume that Rose is going to step aside and let an interim principal move in so that the grant stays in place. New Haven will probably set up a puppet administration until the shoes can be filled properly.

posted by: Back to School on July 29, 2010 8:27am

“The $10 million in Race to the Top money would have been a huge help, but ‘we didn’t make specific plans around it’”

How many New Haven teachers laughed at that one? All the Admin. does is chase money around and then make specific plans around it! The money runs out, little changes, and then the next “great idea” is generated by potential cash. This is mostly because our leaders lack vision and courage to establish their plan first then find the funding. Many of the elements of ‘reform’ we hear about requires this funding. How can it be suggested that NH wasn’t completely planning on getting that money?

Also, Cross’ grant is dependent on the current principal leaving, which it seems she isn’t (by no fault of her own - downtown, although they had seven months to find someone, just can’t do their job and find someone). Staff has been working all summer to implement plans for the ‘new’ Cross. Their pay and all the funds necessary for the new Cross depend on that money. The plan was handed to us by those that chase the money first, scramble to match the aims of a grant, and….now what?

posted by: streever on July 29, 2010 10:38am

Back to school:
The problem you describe is endemic to New Haven. I see it in every facet of our city. We rarely make long-term plans that are coherent & proactive, instead, we focus on the latest possible funding & then scramble to get it.

Instead of laying out a progressive, serious, long-term plan we play catch-up and put out fires. We are a reactive community.

posted by: krm on August 3, 2010 10:22pm

McQuillen and the principle writer should be fired. This is a disgrace.

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