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Prez to Unveil $4B Education Boost Today

Rewards states that push charter schools, teacher performance

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 24, 2009 6:46 AM CDT

(Newser) – President Obama will offer struggling states a carrot and a stick today, as he unveils draft guidelines for a new $4.35 billion education initiative designed to push charter schools, linking teacher pay to performance, and adopting common academic standards. The Race for the Top program, part of the stimulus package, will award grants to states that meet these goals, and shut out those that don't, the Washington Post reports.

The cash isn't a big share of the $100 billion provided for schools in the stimulus package, but the fund dwarfs the amount education secretaries before Arne Duncan had to spend on their own priorities. "I am unbelievably hopeful about the level of change we can drive and the amount of reform we're going to see," says Duncan. Teachers' unions say they have concerns about some of the proposals, but they will reserve judgment until the final details emerge.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

President Barack Obama makes comments on education reform at a White House press conference. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Senior White House Adviser David Axelrod, accompanied by Education Secretary Arne Duncan, reads the book, "First Dog," to children in front of the Education Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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What we're saying here is, if you can't decide to change these practices, we're not going to use precious dollars that we want to see creating better results; we're not going to send those dollars there. - President Obama on education reform

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COMMENTS

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meliska

Jul 25, 2009 1:03 AM CDT

The problem is that many schools require far more funding to produce the same results - because of the student body they serve. Schools that are already hurting will fall further behind if they don't have the resources to meet their students needs.

ClingingToHope

Jul 24, 2009 12:39 PM CDT

I think the federal government's payroll should be linked to "performance."

kokuaguy

Jul 24, 2009 9:41 AM CDT

Good points, IT. How do we make sure more exceptional people like your mother make their careers in education. Higher pay and national recognition for outstanding educators and students would be good I think. Also, I think now is the time to agree on a naional curriculum and to withhold educational funds from localities that refuse to teach science or a factual account of history (including America's failings.)

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education • charter school • Obama administration • President Obama • Arne Duncan • Race to the Top

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Prez to Unveil $4B Education Boost Today