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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009

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Google Issues Disclaimer
Over Racist Michelle Image

But company won't
pull doctored photo

Nov 24, 09 12:28 PM CST
Racist Image of Michelle Obama Taken Down

Blog site removes it, not Google, then issues apology

Nov 25, 09 2:07 PM CST
Michelle wore...

The Skinny on the State Dinner

Michelle Obama wore Naeem Khan, and other tidbits

Nov 25, 09 7:49 AM CST
NEXT STOP, REALITY TV (MAYBE)

Va. Socialites Crashed
Obama's State Dinner

And, yes, Tareq and Michaele Salahi want reality-TV turn

Nov 25, 09 9:29 PM CST
Analysis

Obama Is the Anti-Cowboy

Slow decision on Afghanistan a contrast from Bush's gut checks

Nov 25, 09 9:26 AM CST
MAUREEN DOWd

White House Counsel's Fall Should Worry Obama's Loyal

Cold handling of Craig recalls Clinton era

Nov 25, 09 3:50 AM CST
REBRANDING DEPT.

Dobbs to Latino Voters:
Let's Be Amigos!

Once rabidly anti-illegal anchor now warms to 'amnesty'

Nov 25, 09 12:13 PM CST
Blair Knew Iraq Had No WMD
10 Days Before War Began

Intelligence ignored, British panel told

Nov 25, 09 8:16 PM CST
Bachmann, Palin
to Address
Tea Party
Convention

Nashville to host ultra-conservative gathering February

Nov 25, 09 4:34 PM CST
OPINION

SNL a Right-Wing Mouthpiece

Or latest sketch just a 'vehicle to make anal sex joke'

Nov 24, 09 1:14 PM CST
RUNNING... FROM THE LAW?

Edwards '08
Legal Tab
in Oct. '09:
$43K

Ex-candidate racks up more than $43,000 in October

Nov 25, 09 8:52 AM CST
PARK IT LIKE IT'S HOT

Arnold: 'No One Is Perfect'

Governor owns up to traffic violation

Nov 24, 09 7:20 PM CST
MALKIN GETS FESTIVE

This Year's Top Liberal Turkeys

Stimulus, President O-bow-ma get top billing

Nov 25, 09 8:01 PM CST

|NEXT STORY »

Prez to Unveil $4B Education Boost Today

Rewards states that push charter schools, teacher performance

By Rob Quinn| Posted Jul 24, 09 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)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

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

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

11.24.09

Murdoch and Microsoft: The Mice Are Trying to Roar

11.23.09

Books Are Bad for You

17 comments

VIEWING:

ClingingToHope
Jul 24, 09 7:39 AM CDT

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

| 0 minutes ago

ListenEllipse
Jul 24, 09 8:12 AM CDT

Why does education even need to be a federal program? Let each state and community decide how much they want to run/fund their schools. The federal government is already doing a million other things, why education too? Reply

IN RESPONSE:

mainlander
Jul 24, 09 8:21 AM CDT

Because it's good for the nation to have educated people.

IN RESPONSE:

ListenEllipse
Jul 24, 09 8:42 AM CDT

Then it is also good for states to have educated people. If states spend more money on education they will benefit. A national, one size fits all plan will not be as efficient as each state choosing their own education system.

IN RESPONSE:

Altoecko
Jul 24, 09 12:21 PM CDT

But that's just it, it may be good for states but that doesn't mean they enforce it. Here in Georgia we're on the of worst states. The only reason we have such a great county like Gwinnett is because LOCAL tax money the state just leaves us high and dry.

IN RESPONSE:

Shannonals
Jul 24, 09 3:16 PM CDT

The problem with states and communities running their programs is that the funds are not spread out evenly.

IN RESPONSE:

radnip
Jul 31, 09 2:39 PM CDT

Because a strong democracy needs a well-educated electorate. You can see the problems already with our hodgepodge of state-run education systems. Look at what's come out of the woodwork lately: birthers, Obama=Hitler, Limbaugh is an intellectual. You see the danger of letting states have free-run of their education systems, don't you? It's a danger to the Union.

| 0 minutes ago

BlahBlahBlah
Jul 24, 09 8:42 AM CDT

Well listenellipse it is simple. The states can't figure it out or can't afford it. I am not the biggest fan of goverment being in every aspect of my life but I will step asside when it is for the pursuit of a worth while goal. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

ListenEllipse
Jul 24, 09 9:01 AM CDT

If the states can't figure it out, how is the federal government going to fix it? There are 50 states, with 50 different plans, they can't all be doing equally as poorly. Some plans work better than others. States should learn which plans are working in other states and copy them. It just like competition in the market place, better plans will win out over others. When the federal government is in charge its like having a monopoly, where only one idea is in use.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

kokuaguy
Jul 24, 09 1:36 PM CDT

You are not provideing any expert opinion that backs you up here on your thesis, which if I understand you is that the federal government should have no role on promoting or supporting education for America's youth. By your logic, if one of the states comes up with a truly fantastic system shouldn't the federal government then require all states to adopt it? If by all objective measures it is graduating a higher percentage of kids from HS and sending them on to college, that state must be doing omething right. Agree? Apparently California's system is not good because there Prop. 13 capped real property taxes and when the economy nose dives the state doesn't have the money to help the counties, And if you believe Altoecko (and I do) then Georgia's model isn't working. Do you have any idea which of these 50 states we shoud emulate as having done a good job? If so please share the information with us LE, ;^)

| 0 minutes ago

manbearwire
Jul 24, 09 8:57 AM CDT

It's too bad that the federal government doesn't actually require the schools to report back with how the money is being spent. Ever met someone who worked in education administration? Yeah, I wouldn't want them managing my money either. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

IndependentThinker
Jul 24, 09 12:39 PM CDT

Yes my mother was a teacher for 20 years an administrator for 20 years. She started 3 schools from the ground up, never had a financial problem (this was in CA) and kept the level of education advancing (test scores are a lame way to judge education but they continued to improve year after year). She was highly decorated in the state and was amazing at managing the budget. People like my mother should be dealing with education not people like Obama. Mothers-Teachers not bureaucrats should handle this.

| 0 minutes ago

godawgs
Jul 24, 09 9:15 AM CDT

If you read the AP article from Newser http://www.newser.com/article/d99kk7u83/schools-to-compete-for-5b-from-stimulus-law.html I wonder how the 10-20 states are going to be chosen, and if the student performances can be linked to teacher reviews, then how is that going to stop teachers from just teaching to the test, just like NCLB? The federal money is just going to be a higher standard, but still based off of test results. So the teachers and schools will just do the same thing that they are doing now. So how is this any different then NCLB which is widely criticized on this site? Reply

IN RESPONSE:

IndependentThinker
Jul 24, 09 12:45 PM CDT

Your so right godawgs. I know we normally differ on opinions but think about this when you ask these questions. Isn't teaching to the test what the government wants? They want to make sure that the brainwashing starts early, to make the masses easier to control. They don't want teachers to teach true history, don't want kids thinking too much and if they do think they want to make sure the box they think in is the size and shape the government has defined.

IN RESPONSE:

kokuaguy
Jul 24, 09 4:41 PM 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.)

| 0 minutes ago

NoneofurBusiness
Jul 24, 09 10:06 AM CDT

And what happens to the states who aren't as financially strong as others? We are one country, every citizen equal, who pays hard earned money through taxes to our government. We should all have the same opportunity for quality education. A one size fits all plan just seems fair. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

meliska
Jul 25, 09 8:03 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. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 17 comments »

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

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Prez to Unveil $4B Education Boost Today