Posts Tagged ‘ Race to the Top ’

Race to the Top Results are In: 16 Winners, More than 300 Losers

December 19, 2012

The Race to the Top continues with the announcement that 16 educational organizations including charter organizations, urban schools, and consortia, will share about $400 million. According to the U.S. Department of Education website, 16 applicants, representing 55 school districts in 11 states and D.C.–have won the 2012 Race to the Top-District competition. The $400 million will be used improve achievement and educator effectiveness, close achievement gaps, and prepare every student for college and career.… Read more

Georgia Department of Education Says Evaluation Plan Won’t Work But Will Implement it Anyway?

By Jack Hassard

July 8, 2012

The Georgia Department of Education claims that the evaluation system they developed along Federal guidelines needs to be modified. . They think one part will not work because it will put the state at risk from lawsuits by teachers.

When I first saw the headline in the Atlanta Journal Constitution newspaper, I thought that maybe the state officials got the message written by more than 30 professors.… Read more

How Standards are like Brick Walls in the face of Teaching and Learning

By Jack Hassard

April 18, 2012

Note: This is the fourth article in a series on the consequences of the authoritarian standards & high-stakes testing.

Randy Pausch, author of The Last Lecture, suggested that brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something.… Read more

Why do we teach science?–the economic argument

By Jack Hassard

November 27, 2010

In yesterday’s blog post, I raised the question: Why do we teach science anyway? Do we teach science to help students become curious and to wonder about the world around them? Do we teach science because various committees and professional societies think that studying science has something special to teach students about the world, and how to solve problems in the world?… Read more

Why Some Georgia Districts Choose Not to Partner with the State’s Race to the Top Grant Proposal

By Jack Hassard

August 26, 2010

Georgia was one of nine states and the District of Columbia to receive millions of dollars from the Race to the Top Fund from the U.S. Department of Education. Georgia will receive $400 million.

Not all districts in Georgia will participate in the Race to the Top grant. Three large districts in the Atlanta area, including Fulton and Cobb Counties decided not to participate.… Read more