With $4+ Billion dollars in federal Race to the Top (RTTT) grants at stake, it’s no wonder that cash-strapped states are looking for ways to set themselves apart to win this race.  While each state has its own strengths and weaknesses, some have already been recognized for being out in front.  Colorado is widely seen to be a...

Last month, I wrote a letter to Secretary Arne Duncan expressing support for the U.S. Department of Education's ambitious education reform agenda. With respect to the $4.35 billion Race to the Top grant fund, I encouraged Secretary Duncan to award funds to only the most aggressive states, as has been the intention since the competition was...

In a recent letter, the National Education Association (NEA) expressed concerns about major components of President Obama’s $4.35 billion Race to the Top (RTTT) grant competition. The union thinks the size of the program will inhibit effectiveness, opposes basing teacher evaluations in part on student performance, opposes expanding...

Amidst all the test scores and data indicators, there is a startling truth: if you’re a Delaware high school student, your school is probably underperforming—and not just for a few students. Many will blame NCLB and the state system for classifying schools as “under improvement” because one student did not perform on a...