Senators lead charge to ensure California wins Race to the Top funds

Senator Gloria Romero, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, today submitted a bill to make California eligible for federal Race to the Top funds for education reform.

Senators Bob Huff (R-Glendora), Elaine Alquist (D-Santa Clara), and Mark Wyland (R- Escondido) also are joint authors of what will become Senate Bill 1 in the Legislature's special session on education that Governor Schwarzenegger called last week.

The bill removes the state law that restricts use of student achievement data in teacher evaluations that Education Secretary Arne Duncan has said would make California ineligible for any of the $4.35 billion Race to the Top funds.  It also provides for turning around historically low-performing schools, use of data to improve instruction and student performance, removes the cap on the number of charter schools, authorizes open enrollment for students in low-performing schools, and requires the state to develop a plan to implement reforms that will make California competitive for a Race to the Top grant.

At a Senate Education Committee hearing on Race to the Top yesterday, the Legislative Analyst Office testified that the "stakes are likely to be high" if California fails to make progress implementing President Obama's education reform priorities.  In addition to Race to the Top funds, other annual ongoing federal education funds likely will be linked to implementing the reforms, according to the LAO.

"This bipartisan legislation will make California eligible for a Race to the Top grant, ensure that other federal dollars are not at risk, and implement much-needed reforms to ensure that every child has access to a quality education," said Romero (D-East Los Angeles).  "But Race to the Top is not just about the money.  It is about equality and opportunity for our children."

"By using student test scores to evaluate our teachers, we will be able to mentor struggling teachers and reward the most motivated and talented," said Senator Huff.  "While the current motivation for this reform is much needed federal dollars, it is really just common sense."