Virginia officially refuses to participate in Obama's "Race to the Top" education program

[Ed Barrow]

Virginia will quit the Race to the Top rather than drop the Standards of Learning. In a pointed letter to federal education officials relaying why Virginia will not re-apply for the Obama administration’s grant program, Gov. Bob McDonnell said the Obama administration’s strong push for states to adopt common standards as a key part of the Race to the Top competitive program “is overly prescriptive and disregards individual state initiatives and progress.”

In a pointed letter to federal education officials relaying why Virginia will not re-apply for the Obama administration’s grant program, Gov. Bob McDonnell said the Obama administration’s strong push for states to adopt common standards as a key part of the Race to the Top competitive program “is overly prescriptive and disregards individual state initiatives and progress.”

States, like Virginia, that were not awarded grants in the $4 billion program’s first round, could try again by June 1. Virginia unsuccessfully sought $350 million the first time. The budget for its second appeal is now capped at $250 million.

McDonnell described his decision not to apply as “disappointing.” His staff frequently mentioned the potential to reap hundreds of millions of dollars in federal cash through Race to the Top when moving his three education reforms through this year’s legislative session.


http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/state_regional_govtpolitics/article/EDUC26_20100525-222607/346876/

[BolivarianHero]

1. Why do standards need to vary anyways?

The only thing that should be different are things which relate to local and state history/geography. DUH.

[Frances]

2. Anyone else remember

when the SOLs (Standards of Learning) were first introduced? Fairfax County (VA) objected because Fairfax already had a good testing program and their students were performing very well. Ironic that the state now objects to the U.S. doing to it what the state did to Fairfax County.

[Dappleganger]

8. I sure do.

When the SOL's were put into place, I heard the same complaints from teachers then as I hear now from FL teachers who have to teach to the FCAT's.

[roguevalley]

7. they are on a race to the bottom.

[Angry Dragon]

3. I think this is a good thing

All I have seen coming out of this a push for changing public schools to charter schools with less over-site. Too many greedy people just getting into charter schools to steal money and then walk away after they have sucked the system dry.

[BolivarianHero]

5. If it comes from McDonnell or Cuccinelli, it's not a good idea...

The new Republican executives of VA are so batshit crazy that anything they have on offer is WORSE than the Obama plan.

This isn't the partu of Wilkie, Ike, and Javitz anymore.

[Dappleganger]

9. They also won't even try to replace that money...

they will cut teachers and essential programs all around without even trying to make up the difference.

[Angry Dragon]

11. What you say may be true because I do not know these men

But what I see happening all over this country is Arne Duncan going around and replacing public schools with charter schools, teachers losing their jobs, school districts being raped and pillaged.

Obama is doing nothing for education in this country and he should get rid of Duncan and get someone in there that cares about education and the youth of this country or we will end up with people running schools with Texas school books.

[BolivarianHero]

12. They're religious fundamentalists and right-wing extremists...

They can no more provide a viable alternative to Arne Duncan for the American education system than shifting ex-Mujahideen factions can provide a viable alternative to the Taliban for Afghan women.

[Angry Dragon]

13. I could do a better job than Arne Duncan

[dgibby]

14. Your forgot "bat shit crazy"

I'm from Va, my family's still there. My sister is apoplectic. Can't mention either of them without her launching into a 20min diatribe about what they're doing to the state. What's happening there is heartbreaking.

[w4rma]

4. Yes! That's my state! (nt)

[depakid]

6. McFundy wants Virginia to go the way of Texas

No hundreds of millions for that....

[JackRiddler]

10. If every state did the same they could put an end to this deathmatch spectacle

New York didn't get it last round because it hasn't privatized enough schools yet.

Rather a disgusting criterion.

[MadHound]

15. Good for Virginia, wish my state would do the same,

RTTT fund are nothing less than an assault on public education.