Gov. signs measure to help state qualify for federal Race to the Top funds

From State Supt. desk:

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today thanked Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for signing into law Senate Bill (SB) 19, a measure that improves the use of data to help students succeed, and removes a barrier to California's eligibility for Race to the Top funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.

           "SB 19 gives California a fighting chance to compete for the Race to the Top funding that could help usher in bold and far-reaching structural reform of our nation's K-12 public education system," said O'Connell. "I applaud Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) for authoring SB 19, and thank the Governor for his support of using data to improve student achievement. Approval of this measure removes any doubt that California is committed to using data to improve instruction and teacher effectiveness. This is one of a number of critical elements California must include in our application for Race to the Top funding. There is still a great deal of work ahead to ensure that California is eligible, and I look forward to the continued collaboration with Governor Schwarzenegger, the Legislature, and the State Board of Education as we develop our application."

O'Connell sponsored SB 19, which deletes existing language in state law that prevents the state from using pupil data in teacher assignment and evaluation.

Race to the Top is part of ARRA that was signed into law in February by President Barack Obama. The entire ARRA spending and tax package to benefit the nation's schools includes more than $100 billion for elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education. California already is eligible for $7 billion in ARRA funding to benefit prekindergarten through grade twelve public education in the state.

Race to the Top is a competitive grant program and will provide the largest amount of money the federal government has ever offered specifically geared toward education reform. The funding is specifically intended for selected states to use in order to make systemic changes at the state level that would improve teaching and learning statewide. The President and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan have stated that education data, when used effectively, is a critical tool educators must employ to improve student achievement and close the achievement gap. The Race to the Top competition is asking states to present plans that incorporate:

1.    Adopting common core national standards and assessments to prepare students for success in college and the workplace;

2.    Using data effectively in our schools to improve student achievement;

3.    Turning around low-performing schools; and

4.    Improving teacher effectiveness.

For more information on ARRA and its impact on public education in California, please visithttp://www.cde.ca.gov/ar/.