DOE Gets Cash Boost After Bid Win
By Jessica Ablamsky
The mood among local elected officials could only be described as celebratory when Mayor Mike Bloomberg announced on Aug. 24 that the City would receive up to $300 million for public education in New York State’s successful Race to the Top bid.
“New York State’s selection is a testament to what we’ve accomplished in our City’s schools over the last eight years,” Bloomberg said. “Our students have shown tremendous improvement and now – as a Race to the Top participant – we will work with our teachers and school administrators to raise the bar once again.”
The big question, how the Dept. of Education will spend the money, might not be answered for months. DOE officials have 90 days to negotiate with state officials, said agency spokesman Matt Mittenthal.
New York State’s application promises reform in four areas: curriculum; student performance data (an initiative the City is already at the forefront of statewide); teacher assessment and turning around low-performing schools.
The DOE will fulfill those commitments, Mittenthal said.
A “significant portion” of the Race to the Top money will go toward implementing a new curriculum based on the national Common Core State Standards, an initiative led by the National Governors Association to align education with college-ready standards.
“Race to the Top has been a tremendous catalyst for precisely the kind of education reforms we’ve supported and implemented in New York City; now it is up to all of us to live up to this commitment and continue the important work that got us here,” said Chancellor Joel Klein.
Among those reforms were raising the state cap on charters from 200 to 460. There are 99 charter schools in New York City, with 27 scheduled to open in the 2010-11 school year.
Until negotiations with the state are complete, “I can’t say exactly whether, or how, the money will go directly toward increasing the number of charter schools,” Mittenthal said.
Options for turning around low achieving schools are limited. Reform must follow one of the four following models:
• Turnaround: Phase out the school and replace it with a new school, or completely redesign the school, including replacing the principal and at least half the staff.
• Transformation: Similar to the turnaround model. The principal and at least half the teachers would be replaced. Subsequent hiring would be based on teacher evaluations, including data on student growth, multiple observation-based assessments and portfolios of professional activities.
• Restart: Either convert a school to a charter school or replace it with a charter school. The DOE may also be able to contract with CUNY or SUNY to manage the school.
• Closure: Close the school and enroll students in higher achieving schools.
Though the DOE is not mandated to make hiring decisions dependent upon student performance and other factors until 2011, the requirement will be piloted in some public schools over the coming year through a recent federal grant for persistently low-achieving schools.
“As a parent of a public school student, I know how much this money is needed,” said Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan (D-Ridgewood). “As Chairwoman of the Assembly Education Committee, I know Race To the Top money will go a long way in helping New York renew and renovate our education system.”
Reach Reporter Jessica Ablamsky at jablamsky@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 124.