The complexities and challenges of ensuring the Race to the Top's success are expanding rapidly, and I'm hoping the Department is prepared for what lies ahead.
I'm concerned that, because so many of us have been focussed on the policy changes states have been adopting, two entirely more pressing issues have been given insufficient attention.
The first is the state applications themselves. What are states promising to accomplish--and much, much more importantly--are they actually going to carry them out when they win awards? Several months ago, I warned about "Trojan Horse" applications, proposals that seem welcome until you look inside. Given states' desperate budget conditions and quotes I'm finding from state leaders, my anxiety has heightened. (In a soon-to-be-released article for Education Next, I revisit this matter.)
The second issue, which materialized recently and has grown like kudzu, relates to the MOUs states are trying to negotiate with education stakeholders, particularly unions. ??Ideally, these documents--encouraged by the Department--would be commitments by local leaders to faithfully implement the state's plans should it win a grant. But the complications here are legion.
I've written about these here, here, and here, but the short story is as follows. First, given some recent events, it looks like we need to be prepared for Trojan Horse MOUs, "agreements" that will actually accomplish nothing. Second, in some states, the pending application is so strong that unions are refusing to sign on, but, according to the Department's scorecard, the state could be penalized for inadequate stakeholder buy-in. Third, in states where unions have signed on, it looks like the price of cooperation was a watered down proposal.
I strongly encourage all RTT-watchers to stop fixating on the happenings in state legislatures. That's the sparkly diversion that sets up the??legerdemain. If this program is going to actually lead to substantive, lasting reforms we need to be absolutely certain that a) states truly intend to execute their promises, b) that states aren't punished for standing up to defenders of the status quo, c) that local leaders have the policies, contracts, and will to faithfully implement the proposal, and d) that MOUs are specific, meaningful, and binding.
This is very, very tough stuff. Hopefully somewhere in the bowels of 400 Maryland Avenue, Secretary Duncan's smartest, hardest-working lieutenants are mobilizing.
Image from??http://minnesota.publicradio.org
--Andy Smarick