Mangers of educational industries are no doubt ready to pounce on Illinois' $42 M
Yes, it’s been a long time waiting, but finally, Illinois will share in what is left of the Race to the Top funding and has been been awarded 100% of its most recent proposal and request for $42,818,707. Although this is not nearly the funding that we could have received had our earlier plans been awarded, we lead the nine states who were received the Federal nod for financial support.
No doubt, textbook publishers, testing companies (like ACT that already pockets more than $15 million annually for 11th grade testing) and overpriced consulting companies with overstated promises and inexperienced consultants are poised to plea for a share in this recent Federal allocation.
How does Illinois promise to spend this funding? The state has established three goals for the Race to the Top Phase 3 plan
- create a group of “reform exemplars” among participating LEAs that will agree to meet a high bar for implementing a comprehensive set of reforms;
- build systems and processes to continue and sustain improved student outcomes for all participating LEAs;
- build State capacity to extend reforms statewide.
In particular, its Race to the Top Phase 3 award will be used to support or partially support the following activities:
- Build State and LEA capacity by creating the Race to the Top Leadership and Implementation team, the Center for School Improvement, implementing the revised State Report Cards, and supporting participating LEAs’ use of integrated and comprehensive continuous improvement plans.
- Support transition to the Common Core State Standards and high quality assessments by supporting participating LEAs in the delivery of standard-aligned instruction, creating P-20 STEM Programs of Study with STEM Learning Exchanges, and establishing LEA assessment systems.
- Promote effective use of the Illinois Shared Learning Environment through regional and online LEA support networks and portable institutes.
- Support the evaluation, placement, and support of educators by providing evaluation supports including an evaluator pre-qualification and training program, establishing partnerships with participating LEAs to support the placement of high quality teachers in schools with high poverty and high minority students, and developing induction and mentoring programs for beginning educators.
This plan will also have an impact on STEM education in the State by funding the establishment of a new, innovative public-private infrastructure to advance STEM Programs of Study; focusing standards implementation supports on mathematics and science integration into the curriculum; establishing a technology platform for the delivery of STEM resources; and providing induction and mentoring supports targeted to STEM educators.
My hope is that this money will be used wisely to provide needed professional development for teachers who are clamoring for guidance in Common Core implementation, support students in high poverty and low SES districts–rural and urban, and introduce methodologies and opportunities for the development of STEM programs articulating among business enterprise and schools. In light of my hope that this money really affects the classroom, I also hope it is not wasted on greedy profit and not-for-profit companies well-positioned and ready to pounce on any and all Federal funds.
